Shaheen Afridi takes fresh aim at India over Asia Cup handshake drama: 'People across the border violated sportsmanship'

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has landed in controversy after taking a jibe at the Indian team on Wednesday. The senior pacer accused “people across the border” of lack of sportsmanship in context of the Asia Cup in September, in which the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue refused to shake hands with their opponents in each of their three meetings in the tournament, including in the final.

“People across the border violated sportsmanship. Our job is to play cricket, and that remains our focus. We will try to respond on the field,” Afridi had told reporters recently.

Shaheen Afridi on India behaviour in Asia Cup:
“People across the border have violated the spirit of sportsmanship. Our job is to play cricket, and that remains our focus. We will try to respond on the field.”#ShaheenAfridi #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/EWxiZXgJGJ

— Shakeel Khan Khattak (@ShakeelktkKhan) January 7, 2026

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India’s stance was seen as a form of protest against the Pahalgam terror attack and one that meant to express solidarity with the Indian armed forces. Surya and Co later refused to accept the winner's trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be the current Asian Cricket Council president, after beating Pakistan by five wickets in the final.

Naqvi, however, created another controversy by refusing to hand it over to the Indian team via another person and took the trophy with him, having kept it in ACC's custody ever since.

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Will Afridi’s comment lead to another heated clash between the arch-rivals? 

India are set to face Pakistan once again next month, with the two arch-rivals placed in Group A and locking horns at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium on 15 February, and it remains to be seen if the Men in Blue continue to ignore their opponents on the field in the highly-anticipated showdown.

Afridi, meanwhile, faces a race against time in order to regain full fitness ahead of the showpiece T20I event, having injured his knee while playing for Brisbane Heat in the 15th season of the Big Bash League.

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, however, remains hopeful of the left-arm pacer leading the attack in the tournament that gets underway on 7 February.

“We are hopeful he will be fit for the World Cup, but the final decision will come from the (Pakistan Cricket) Board on advice from the medical panel,” the all-rounder had said recently.