After India’s resounding Super Four victory in the Asia Cup 2025 on September 21 (Sunday), former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan launched a furious attack on the Pakistan cricket team. Tilak Varma (30* off 19) led India to a six-wicket victory after Indian openers Abhishek Sharma (74 off 39) and Shubman Gill (47 off 28) combined for 105 runs in only 9.5 overs while chasing 172.
Senior seamers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan tried to sledge the Indian hitters but were unable to support their efforts with their deliveries. Afridi scored 40 runs in 3.5 wicketless overs after having earlier given up 23 runs in two overs during the group stage. Even though he returned figures of 2/26 in four overs, Rauf did not have much of an impact.
“India advances, India triumphs.” This is India’s magic. However, Abhishek Sharma claimed in the post-match presentation that they said inappropriate things because of the amount of hostility and banter that we witnessed yesterday. All of the players stated on social media that if you keep talking, we will continue to win. According to the Hindustan Times, Irfan Pathan stated on his YouTube channel, “It’s a simple message.”
Cricket players from India are unaffected. We don’t ever speak. We play cricket in silence. But whether you’re Australian or Pakistani, don’t assume that we won’t reply if you say something. We’ll respond. We’ll respond to you and respond with our bat.
“We never even discuss in the media how Pakistan lost the 2022 World Cup to Zimbabwe. Since nobody cared whether you won or lost, neither I nor anyone else tweeted. We thoroughly study and detail them, but we don’t give a damn.
After the group stage encounter finished without the traditional handshake, tensions between the two teams increased. Pakistani players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan exchanged contentious gestures during the Super Four match.
While Rauf gave the Indian crowd a “6-0” hand signal, seemingly alluding to purported Indian Air Force losses during Operation Sindoor—a allegation for which there is no solid proof—Farhan commemorated his fiftieth birthday with a pistol gesture.
But we won’t let you leave if you mistreat us. Our rule has been that. Whether it was Farhan’s celebration or what transpired during yesterday’s match, you are celebrating what is happening between our two nations,” Irfan Pathan continued.
“I assumed this boy was alright, Haris Rauf. He seemed appreciative when we spoke in Australia. However, given his actions yesterday, that wasn’t required. The behaviour of these two boys only reveals information about their backgrounds, upbringing, and activities.
India
