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Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi threatens India, questions “sportsmanship”

Aakash Saini

Shaheen Afridi challenges India [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]Shaheen Afridi challenges India [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]

Pakistan quick Shaheen Afridi has issued an open threat against arch-rivals Team India ahead of next month’s 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Amid India’s rising geo-political tensions with neighboring countries Pakistan and Bangladesh, Pakistan’s self-proclaimed “premium fast bowler” questioned India’s ethics and sportsmanship, and vowed to respond the ‘Men in Blue’ on the field.

It is worth noting that Shaheen Afridi was belted across all corners of the Dubai International turf the last time the 25-year-old went up against Team India, just a few months ago during the 2025 T20 Asia Cup in the UAE.

Shaheen Afridi issues big threat against Team India before T20 World Cup

In a recent media interaction, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi questioned India’s sportsmanship ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The cricketer also vowed to respond the “people across the border” on the field as the two sides prep themselves for the showpiece event in India and Sri Lanka next month.

Shaheen Afridi said, “There seems to be lack of sportsmanship in people across the border. We will give response on the field.”

Shaheen Afridi made the controversial statement at the height of India’s worsening geo-political ties with Pakistan, which largely stemmed from the Pahalgam terrorist attack last year that left over a couple of dozens Indian civilians dead. The attack was followed by India’s cross-border retaliation, which led to a threatening delay in both, IPL 2025 and PSL 2025 seasons in India and Pakistan respectively.

The 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE was also marred with some severe controversies, especially during the three India vs Pakistan matches played in the tournament in Dubai. Not only did the players from both sides refused to shake hands, India and Pakistan captains also did not interact with each other at the toss of all three games and rejected their pre-final photoshoot.

Moreover, PCB chairman and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi seized the Asia Cup 2025 trophy for himself after Team India refused to interact with the Pakistani politician-cum-cricket administrator owing to his controversial statements against the Indian Army earlier that year.

With Team India winning all three matches of the 2025 Asia Cup, the two sides will now resume their rivalry at the 2026 T20 World Cup next month on February 15 in Colombo.