Shahid Afridi’s Nasty Dig At India For WCL Exit

The former Pakistan captain called the India Champions team’s withdrawal from the WCL semi-final ’embarrassing’. When asked if ego was the reason, Afridi fired back with a crude retort, saying “Ego ke liye shaklein bhi chahiye fir!”

August 1, 2025: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sharply criticized the India Champions team for its withdrawal from a semi-final match against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL). Afridi labeled the decision “embarrassing,” suggesting it was the result of “one or two guys” on the Indian side.

The match, which was a semi-final in the private T20 league, resulted in a walkover for the Pakistan Champions, who advanced to the final. This was the second time the Indian team backed out of a game against Pakistan in the tournament, with the first instance occurring during the group stage following severe social media backlash related to the Pahalgam attack.

During an interview, Afridi did not hold back his frustration. “You need to be a good ambassador of your nation, not an embarrassment,” he stated. When asked if the issue was one of “ego,” Afridi gave a crude retort, saying, “You need to be good-looking first to be egoistic.”

Despite his sharp critique, Afridi also shared a more diplomatic viewpoint on the matter. He reiterated the importance of India and Pakistan playing cricket, saying it fosters better diplomacy. He recalled a time when leaders from both nations would watch matches together, emphasizing that such interactions prevent “distances” from increasing.

Afridi revealed that when he heard India’s team was refusing to play against him specifically, he offered to not show up. “I just want cricket to be separate from politics,” he said, lamenting the disappointment of 17,000 fans who were supposed to attend the match. “If politics meddle with everything, we won’t be able to move forward.”