Irfan Pathan reveals epic comeback that shut Shahid Afridi up during a flight in Pakistan: 'He has eaten dog meat...'

Irfan Pathan has had quite the connection with Pakistan. As a player, it was against this very team that he had collected a Test hat-trick in Karachi in January 2006, becoming only the second Indian to achieve the feat. And since hanging up his playing boots and picking up the commentator’s mic, the 40-year-old is known for his occasional jab at India’s padosiyon on social media.

Turns out, Pathan had quite the fierce rivalry with former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi as well. It was, after all, a rivalry that was ignited by Afridi comment in an interview with eminent broadcaster Harsha Bhogle, in which he had labelled the left-arm pacer a “fake Pathan”.

The comment fired Pathan up to the extent that he made it a point to dismiss him every time the two came face to face on the cricket ground. The result? Pathan ended up dismissing Afridi 11 times during his nine-year international career.

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How Pathan hit back at Afridi with ‘dog meat’ jibe

It’s not just the ball though that Pathan has done the talking with. In an interview on Lallantop, the cricketer-turned-commentator revealed how he had shut Afridi up while the two were on a flight during India’s tour of Pakistan in 2006.

“During the 2006 tour, we were flying from Karachi to Lahore. Both teams were travelling together. Afridi came and put his hand on my head and messed up my hair. He asked me, ‘How are you kid?’” Pathan revealed during the conversation.

“I thought since when did you become my father. He behaved like a child. I was neither talking to him nor saying anything. After this Afridi said some bad things to me. His seat was near mine.

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Pathan then revealed how he clapped back at Afridi during a conversation with the latter’s teammate Abdul Razzaq, who was sitting right next to him.

“Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq was sitting with me then. I asked him what kind of meat is available here. He told me meat of different animals are available. After this I asked whether dog meat is available. Razzaq was surprised to hear me and said, ‘Hey Irfan why are you saying this?”

“He (Afridi) has eaten dog meat, he has been barking for so long. After this Afridi could not say anything. If he said anything I would have said look he is barking more. After this he remained quiet for the entire flight. He understood from this incident that he would not be able to fight me verbally. That is why he never said anything to me again,” Irfan added.

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It’s not just Pathan Afridi has had run-ins with in the past when it comes to the Indian team, he also had a massive confrontation with former opener and current Men in Blue head coach Gautam Gambhir when Pakistan had visited India in 2007.

The two would continue to trade barbs with one another long after the incident, even after their retirement, but have gradually mellowed in recent years.