Shikhar Dhawan Slams Shahid Afridi Over Controversial Indian Army Remarks
In a fiery social media outburst, former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has sharply rebuked ex-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for his shocking comments on the Indian Army following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, which claimed 26 innocent lives. Afridi’s remarks, made during a discussion on Samaa TV, questioned the Indian Army’s competence and dismissed Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, sparking a massive controversy.
Afridi, known for his outspoken nature, stirred the hornet’s nest by stating, ‘Patakha phat jaata hai wahaan par, Pakistan ne kiya’ (Even if a firecracker bursts there, they blame it on Pakistan). He further criticized the Indian Army’s presence in Kashmir, saying, ‘Tum logon ki 8 lakh ki fauj hai Kashmir mein aur yeh ho gaya. Iska matlab nalayak ho, nikamme ho na tum log ki security de nahi sake logon ko’ (You have an 8,00,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you couldn’t provide security to the people).
Not one to mince words, Dhawan took to his social media platform to deliver a scathing response. He wrote, ‘Kargil mein bhi haraya tha, already itna gire hue ho aur kitna giroge, bewajah comments pass karne se acha hai apne desh ki taraqqi mai dimag lagao @SAfridiOfficial. Humein hamari Indian Army par bohot garv hai. Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!’ (We defeated you in Kargil, you’re already so degraded, how much lower will you fall? Instead of making baseless comments, focus on your country’s progress. We are extremely proud of our Indian Army). His reference to the 1999 Kargil War, where India emerged victorious over Pakistan, added a historical punch to his retort.
Afridi didn’t stop at criticizing the Indian Army; he also took aim at the Indian media, accusing them of dramatizing the attack. ‘Hairat hoti hai ki hamle ke ek ghante ke baad hi unka media Bollywood ban gaya. Khuda ke liye har kuch ko Bollywood mat banao’ (It’s surprising that within an hour of the attack, their media turned into Bollywood. For God’s sake, don’t make everything Bollywood), he remarked. He added with a tinge of mockery, ‘Main hairaan ho gaya, balki main enjoy kar raha tha jis tarah ki woh baatein kar rahe they’ (I was astonished, in fact, I was enjoying the way they were talking).
Without directly naming individuals, Afridi also expressed disappointment over certain former Indian cricketers for pointing fingers at Pakistan without evidence. ‘Do cricketers jo India se itni cricket khele hue hain… unki taraf se direct Pakistan. Bhai kyun Pakistan? Koi saboot hi dikha do yaar’ (Two cricketers who have played so much for India… yet they directly blame Pakistan. Brother, why Pakistan? Just show some proof), he challenged.
This heated exchange between two cricketing stalwarts has reignited tensions off the field, mirroring the historical rivalry between India and Pakistan on the cricket pitch. Dhawan, who has played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India, scoring over 10,000 international runs, is widely respected for his aggressive yet composed demeanor. Afridi, a fan favorite in Pakistan with 398 ODI wickets and a reputation for explosive batting, often courts controversy with his candid opinions.
The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in recent years, has already heightened emotions, and Afridi’s comments have poured fuel on an already raging fire. As debates rage on social media, with hashtags like #IndianArmyPride and #DhawanVsAfridi trending, one thing is clear: this spat transcends cricket, touching on national pride and sensitive geopolitical issues.
What are your thoughts on this verbal duel between Dhawan and Afridi? Should cricketers refrain from commenting on such sensitive matters, or is it their right to voice opinions? Drop your views in the comments below as this story continues to unfold.