Asia Cup 2025: ‘Everyone Thinks the Way..’ – Pakistan pacer responds Haris Rauf’s on-field gestures vs India in Super 4 clash
Shaheen Afridi defended Haris Rauf’s on-field celebrations during the IND vs PAK Super 4 clash, emphasizing that everyone has the right to express themselves while the team focuses on winning.
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The Super Fours encounter between India and Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 on September 21 turned into more than a contest of bat and ball after Pakistan's Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan raised eyebrows with their routines on the field. Several fans and analysts criticized the two players for what was classed as childish and inept behaviour during the match.
Ahead of Pakistan’s final Super Four fixture against Bangladesh, pacer Shaheen Afridi was questioned about the gestures made by Rauf and Farhan. Afridi said the celebrations should not divert the team from the primary focus of playing cricket. He moved on from the debacle, emphasizing everyone will have an opinion.
“Look, our job is to play cricket. Honestly, everyone has the right to express the way they want to. Everyone has their own respect. Everyone thinks the way they think. But our job is to play cricket. And we have come to win the tri-nation Series. We have come to win the Asia Cup. And we, God willing, as a team, are doing our best,” Afridi said, as quoted by NDTV Sports.
Afridi Confident Despite Recent Struggles
While the finalists of the tournament are yet to be confirmed, Afridi expressed confidence that Pakistan can overcome India if they meet in the final on September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. He acknowledged the team’s struggles against top-ranked sides in recent times but emphasized that the players are determined to change that narrative.
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“They have not reached the final yet. We will see when they reach the final. We have come here to win the final and win the Asia Cup. We are ready for any team that comes. We will defeat them. Yes, we haven't won against big teams. You can say that we have grown in the rankings. But when you play against big teams, you win. The teams that are coming now, we are competing against them,” he added. It’s worth noting that Pakistan have already suffered two consecutive defeats against India in this edition, but there remains a possibility of the arch-rivals meeting once more in the tournament decider.
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