Shahid Afridi Responds to Irfan Pathan's Dog

The ill-will between cricketers from Pakistan and India doesn’t seem confined to the current crop of players, as Shahid Afridi and Irfan Pathan have reignited their long-standing verbal feud in light of recent events.

The two former cricketers have been trading jabs, revisiting a spat that dates back to as early as 2006.

Now, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has dismissed Irfan Pathan’s claims of a heated exchange during their playing days, challenging the ex-India all-rounder to confront him directly rather than “talk behind his back.”

Irfan Pathan, speaking recently to an Indian outlet, recalled a 2006 flight from Karachi to Lahore where, according to him, Afridi’s banter escalated into an ugly war of words. Pathan alleged that he jokingly told Abdul Razzaq that Afridi must have eaten dog meat to be acting like one, after the Pakistan all-rounder ruffled his hair. The story quickly made headlines in India, reigniting chatter around one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries.

Afridi, however, rejected the tale outright. Speaking to Samaa, he invited Pathan to meet him in person.

Recalling the incident, Afridi said:

“Irfan should thank God that India didn’t have a pacer when he played—someone like him, bowling at 120–125 kph, managed to build a career. When Razzaq found out, he said it’s all a lie, nothing like that ever happened. I wish I had been there, I’d have liked to see how he could say all those things.”

Although the incident took place nearly two decades ago, it has resurfaced amid the recent tensions between Pakistan and India during the Asia Cup. Both Afridi and Pathan, known for their patriotic fervor, have now found themselves embroiled in an online feud. Afridi has already criticized figures like Pathan for speaking against Pakistan while still commentating during matches involving the team.

For many Pakistani fans, the issue isn’t so much about what may or may not have happened in 2006, but why such stories are resurfacing now. While Afridi has called for clarity “face to face,” it remains to be seen whether Pathan will respond in kind or whether this will simply become another chapter in the long and often fiery Pakistan India cricket narrative.

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