In the high-stakes world of cricket, where India-Pakistan matches often transcend sport and delve into geopolitics, former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi has ignited a fresh firestorm. His recent comments on the Asia Cup 2025 handshake row have gone viral on X, trending under hashtags like #ShahidAfridi, #AsiaCup2025, and #HandshakeControversy. Afridi didn’t hold back, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government while unexpectedly praising opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The remarks, made amid heightened tensions following a brutal terror attack, have drawn sharp political backlash in India.
The controversy erupted during the India-Pakistan group-stage clash on September 14, 2025, in Dubai. India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory, but the post-match scene stole the headlines. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team skipped the customary handshake with their Pakistani counterparts—a deliberate snub in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. On April 22, 2025, The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, gunned down 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s scenic Pahalgam valley. Among the dead were 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali national, targeted after being forced to recite Quranic verses. The U.S. designated TRF a terrorist organization in July 2025, underscoring its links to Pakistan-sponsored militancy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), alleging bias by match referee Andy Pycroft and demanding his removal. The ICC dismissed the claim, but the incident amplified calls in India to boycott matches against Pakistan until it reins in cross-border terrorism. Social media erupted with boycott campaigns, pressuring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the fixture.
Enter Shahid Afridi, the swashbuckling all-rounder known for his fiery opinions. In a discussion on Pakistan’s Samaa TV, Afridi lambasted the Modi government for what he called a “very nasty mindset,” accusing it of exploiting Hindu-Muslim divides to cling to power. “This government plays the religion card, the Muslim-Hindu card, to stay in power,” he fumed, linking the handshake snub directly to political directives. He went further, drawing a provocative parallel: “Is one Israel not enough that India wants to become another?”—equating India’s Pakistan policy to Israel’s actions in Gaza and suggesting the no-handshake move reflected a broader aggressive stance.
But Afridi’s most eyebrow-raising praise was reserved for Rahul Gandhi. “Rahul Gandhi has a positive mindset. He wants to walk with everyone, with the entire world, through dialogue,” the former captain said, portraying the Congress leader as a beacon of inclusivity and hope for better India-Pakistan ties. Afridi implied that under Gandhi’s influence, such “despicable” gestures like the handshake refusal wouldn’t occur, as they would prioritize conversation over confrontation.
The comments have polarized opinions on X, where Afridi is trending with over 50,000 mentions in the last 24 hours. Supporters in Pakistan hailed his candor, with posts like “Afridi speaks truth—dialogue is the way!” from users echoing his call for peace. In India, however, the reaction has been largely scathing. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla fired back on X: “After Hafiz Saeed, now Shahid Afridi (terror apologist & India hater) praises Rahul Gandhi. Not surprised! Everyone who hates India finds an ally in Rahul Gandhi & Congress. INC = Islamabad National Congress.” Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT cell head, added: “Rabid Hindu-hater Shahid Afridi… is suddenly all praise for Rahul Gandhi,” questioning Gandhi’s loyalties and linking it to Congress’s historical stance on issues like Article 370.
Critics also pointed out Afridi’s glaring silence on the Pahalgam attack and Pakistan’s role in Kashmir terrorism. Posts flooded X: “Afridi slams Modi but ignores TRF’s massacre of 26 innocents in Pahalgam—selective outrage much?” one user quipped, while another noted, “Why do all Pakistanis love Rahul and hate Modi? Coincidence?” The debate has spilled into broader accusations, with some BJP leaders like NV Subhash mocking if Gandhi was “mourning Pakistan’s defeat.”
Congress has hit back, dismissing the BJP’s attacks as desperate electioneering. They shared an old photo of Kiren Rijiju (now a BJP minister) shaking hands with Afridi during the 2011 World Cup, captioning it: “Sportsmanship knows no politics—BJP’s hypocrisy exposed.” Rahul Gandhi himself hasn’t commented yet, but party insiders say the praise from an unlikely source underscores his commitment to dialogue amid escalating tensions.
Afridi’s intervention highlights how cricket remains a proxy battleground for India-Pakistan relations. With the Asia Cup ongoing and the PCB mulling a potential boycott, the row underscores deeper issues: terrorism’s shadow over sports, the politicization of gestures, and the chasm between New Delhi’s hardline stance and calls for engagement. As X users debate, one thing’s clear—Afridi’s words have turned a post-match protocol into a full-blown diplomatic dust-up. Whether it fosters dialogue or deepens divides, only time will tell.
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