Dubai: Controversy has emerged following India’s significant victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, particularly surrounding Pakistan’s pacers, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. The two players were seen conversing during the Indian national anthem, prompting widespread criticism on social media for perceived disrespect.
This incident quickly gained traction online, amplifying the contentious atmosphere that characterized the India-Pakistan matches throughout the tournament. Notably, during the group stage, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav chose not to shake hands with his Pakistani counterparts, maintaining this position in subsequent matches. Rauf also faced backlash from fans over a controversial gesture he made during a previous encounter, further escalating tensions leading into the final, where India declined to accept the trophy from PCB and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi.
In a post-match comment, Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma, who was awarded Player of the Tournament for his exceptional performances, took an indirect swipe at Shaheen Afridi. He revealed his strategy to aggressively target all bowlers, including those he referred to as “premium fast bowlers.” Abhishek stated, “I had a plan (on adjusting to different surfaces) and utilize the powerplay. Spinners, fast bowlers, any of the premium fast bowlers… I had it in my mind that I have to go from the first ball. That is going to help me give impact to my team and that is what happened,” during the post-match presentation.
As the tournament wrapped up, fan reactions and media discourse continue to reflect the heated rivalry and the underlying tensions that have permeated the recent cricketing events between India and Pakistan.
