Irfan Pathan shared a funny yet heated story from India’s 2006 tour of Pakistan. During a flight from Karachi to Lahore, when both teams were travelling together, Shahid Afridi walked up to him, messed up his hair, and said, “How are you, kid?” Pathan replied, “Since when have you become my father?” This led to a small argument, as Afridi started using abusive words while sitting right next to him.

On the other side, Pathan was sitting with Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. While chatting, Pathan asked him about the types of meat available in Pakistan. Razzaq listed a few, and then Pathan suddenly asked, “Is dog meat available here?” Afridi, who was listening, was shocked. Razzaq also asked why Pathan said that. Pathan replied, “He has eaten dog meat, that’s why he’s been barking for so long.”

Irfan Pathan on his relationship with Shahid Afridi.

Pathan didn’t mince a word🔥pic.twitter.com/T81naJVVwy

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) August 16, 2025

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Afridi stayed quiet for the rest of the flight. Pathan said that from that day, Afridi knew he couldn’t win against him in an argument, so he never tried again. Their rivalry didn’t end there. Pathan had many good performances against Pakistan, taking 67 wickets and scoring 807 runs, including a hundred. One of his big moments was in the 2007 T20 World Cup final, where he dismissed Afridi for a golden duck.

Shahid Afridi could only silently witness from the balcony of the stadium as the Yuvraj Singh-led Indian Champions, who had just decided not to play the WCL 2025 semi-final against the Pakistani Champions, walked out of the venue. The decision came due to the increased political tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack incident. India had already skipped their league stage match against Pakistan, and many wondered if they would stick to their stand in the knockout stage—which they did, emphatically.

A video doing rounds on social media captured the moment—Afridi watching helplessly from above while Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and others exited the stadium. After qualifying for the semifinals, Afridi had taunted, "Pata nahi ab kis muh se khelga par khelega hamare sath hi (Don’t know with what face India will play, but they’ll have to play us)." That remark now stands hollow as India chose principle over play, choosing to forfeit the game rather than take the field against Pakistan. Their semifinal qualification came after defeating the West Indies Champions.

The tournament organizers officially confirmed the development in a statement: "We respect the India Champions' decision to withdraw from the semifinals, and we equally respect the Pakistan Champions' readiness to compete. Taking all factors into consideration, the match between the India Champions and the Pakistan Champions has been called off." They added that Pakistan will advance to the final by default.

Organisers Acknowledge Public Sentiment

The WCL committee further stated that while they’ve always believed in sport as a unifier, respecting public emotion was paramount. "Public sentiment must always be respected—after all, everything we do is for our audience," the statement read. The Indian team, including famous players like Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan, was one in the decision to respect the national sentiment and not play the game.

Indian team packing their bags and knocked out out of WCL 🇮🇳
Lala watching them from the balcony. #WCL2025 pic.twitter.com/zpmffXfqWE

— TEAM AFRIDI (@TEAM_AFRIDI) July 30, 2025

بھارت سیمی فائنل تک تو پہنچ گیا اب کس منہ سے ھمارے ساتھ کھیلے گا۔شاھد آفریدی pic.twitter.com/1UScfnzpYl

— Shahid Khan Afridi Fan (@Afridiifan) July 30, 2025

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This act of solidarity went far beyond the spheres of the game of sport. The fact that the India Champions are not taking part in the tournament does not mean that their stance has not raised a discussion about the intertwined politics and cricket issue.

Shahid Afridi launched an attack on an individual without revealing the name. The India Legends vs Pakistan Legends match was called off after Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and multiple other cricketers of the India Legends team decided to boycott the game. The decision to boycott the match did not make Shahid Afridi happy. In his natural way of talking, the former Pakistan international said that even the 'Indian team is very disappointed.' Without mentioning any individual's name, Afridi decided to use the 'one rotten egg' phrase in a symbolic way. 

"Sports brings countries closer. If politics comes between everything, then how will you move forward? Without communication, things cannot be solved. The idea for these kinds of events is also to meet one on one. But you know, there is always one rotten egg, which spoils everything," Afridi told the media on Sunday, July 20.

"They trained the day before the match. I think that they pulled out just because of one guy. Even the Indian team is very disappointed. They were here to play. I am telling you, you should be a good ambassador for the country, not an embarrassment." 

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According to media reports, the organizers of the World Championship of Legends on social media announced the cancellation of the highly anticipated clash after Dhawan reiterated his stance of not playing against Pakistan. 

The decision not came from BCCI 

"The event organizers of WCL have confirmed that tomorrow's match between India and Pakistan (Sunday, 20th July, at 16.30) has been cancelled. Please do not attend, as the stadium will be closed. All ticket holders will receive a full refund; please see below for further details," the official X account of Edgbaston Stadium announced.

The relation between these two archrivals got more heated after the Pahalgam terror attack incident. The Indian cricket board (BCCI) made their stand clear by declaring no bilateral series with Pakistan. But the World Championship of Legends is not controlled by the Board of Control for Cricket in India; the decision from the players is considered as their own standpoint. 

While the defending champions India Champions will start their World Championship of Legends (WCL) T20 2025 journey on Sunday (July 20), there is massive controversy, as their opening match will be played against Pakistan Champions, where Shahid Afridi is a member of the Pakistan team. We have less than 24 hours left to officially begin the match, and some big news has just come regarding the former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. 

Many Indians have called for a boycott of the match against Pakistan Champions in the WCL 2025. The presence of Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan captain, has made the situation worse, as he made several comments that targeted India, the Indian Army, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh criticised the former Pakistan all-rounder for his comments, and both are in the India Champions squad for the WCL 2025. 

And this is not the first time, as Afridi had previously made many controversial and hateful comments targeting India and Kashmir. Even former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh also criticised the former Pakistan all-rounder for his poor comments. Just like Dhawan and Harbhajan, Yuvraj is also a member of the India Champions for the WCL 2025. 

See Also: Should India boycott playing Pakistan at WCL 2025?

Organisers keeping away Shahid Afridi against India Champions: Report

While several Indian cricketers are reportedly considering withdrawing their names from the match against Pakistan Champions, Shahid Afridi's presence is doubtful for the match. According to the latest Zee News report, the organisers are considering keeping Afridi away from the match against the India Champions to avoid any controversy. Indian company EaseMyTrip is the official “Powered By” sponsor of WCL 2025.

Interestingly, Pakistan Champions started the WCL 2025 season with the match against England Champions last Friday (July 18), where Afridi wasn't present. 

Several Indian cricketers reportedly pulling out of the match

In the meantime, according to several news reports, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan are likely to pull out of the match against Pakistan Champions. 

The World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 is all set to bring back some of the biggest cricket stars we’ve all grown up watching. The captains for all six teams have now been confirmed, and the excitement is building as the tournament kicks off on July 18 in England and runs till August 2. The biggest headline this year is the return of AB de Villiers, also known as Mr. 360, who will lead the South Africa Champions. After being away from the game for a few years, AB is making a comeback, and fans can’t wait to see him back on the field doing what he does best.

🚨 CAPTAIN's IN WCL 2025 🚨

South Africa - AB De Villiers.
India - Yuvraj Singh.
West Indies - Chris Gayle.
Australia - Brett Lee.
England - Eoin Morgan.
Pakistan - Shahid Afridi. pic.twitter.com/IBpL7LOPq2

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 18, 2025

The matches will be played across four famous stadiums Edgbaston, Headingley, Leicester, and Northampton. This is not just a fun tournament it's officially supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and will feature 18 exciting T20 matches where legends from all over the world will go head-to-head.

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From Gayle’s massive sixes, Yuvraj’s magic in ground, to AB de Villiers' 360° shots, WCL 2025 is going to be a dream come true for fans. It’s a great chance to watch our favourite players back in action, playing for country and back to the game for the most waited wlc 2025.

World Championship of Legends 2025 will kick off with the hosts, England Champions, taking on Pakistan Champions. We had a competitive season last year and hope to repeat it.

The England Champions will look for a good start this year after struggling in the last season with the bat and the ball. Pakistan Champions had a good season, and the side will look to make a strong impact in their first game.

EDC vs PNC Match Details

Date: July 18th, 2025

Time: 9:00 PM IST

Venue: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham

Live Streaming: Fancode  

EDC vs PNC Weather Report

Clear weather

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Top Batters EDC vs PNC

• Kamran Akmal (PNC) - 172 runs in this tournament (Last 5 T20)

• Eoin Morgan (EDC) - 146 runs in this tournament

• Phil Mustard (EDC) - 106 runs in this tournament 

Top Bowler EDC vs PNC

• Smit Patel (EDC) - 4 wickets in this tournament 

• Wahab Riaz (PNC) - 6 wickets in this tournament

• Moeen Ali (PNC) - 3 wickets in this tournament

EDC vs PNC Recent Performance

EDC vs PNC Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If PNC bats first

• First Innings score prediction- PNC is expected to score 155-165 runs

• Result prediction- EDC will win the match by 6 Wickets.

Scenario 2- If EDC bats first

• First Innings score prediction- EDC is expected to score 180-190 runs.

• Result prediction- EDC will win the match by 35-40 Runs

EDC vs PNC Predicted Playing XI

England Champions (EDC) Playing XI 

Eoin Morgan (c), Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Phil Mustard (wk), Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Ian Bell, Liam Plunkett, Chris Tremlett, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Ryan Sidebottom.

Pakistan Champions (PNC) Playing XI

Shahid Afridi (c), Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-ul-Haq, Aamer Yamin

EDC vs PNC Today Match Prediction, Who Will Win the Match?

England Champions To win

We predict that England Champions will be winning this WCL 2025 match. The likes of Ravi Bopara, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali will be key players to watch out for.

Former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is all set to don the gloves and lead the Pakistan Champions in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), scheduled in the UK from July 18 to August 2. The wicketkeeper-batter, still active in international cricket, announced his arrival via a social media post, with the official Pakistan Champions account confirming his inclusion. At 37, Sarfaraz brings not just his skill behind the stumps but also the leadership that once guided Pakistan to Champions Trophy glory in 2017 and won 11 consecutive T20 series, a valuable asset for Season 2.

In the first season under Younis Khan, the Pakistan Champions lost only two matches and stormed into the final, narrowly missing out to India in a dramatic chase where India successfully reached the target of 157 with five wickets in hand and five balls remaining. With Sarfaraz now back in charge, there are greater expectations to be able to deliver a better campaign and finally win the title.

To add to the excitement, Shahid Afridi will return on official captaincy duties with a strong set of legends behind him. South African superstar AB de Villiers will switch colors to lead South Africa Champions, meaning Pakistan will face an old rivalry afresh. The tournament schedule kicks off with England vs. Pakistan at Edgbaston on July 18, while the much-anticipated India vs. Pakistan clash follows on July 20. The action-packed season culminates with semifinals on July 31 and a grand final back at Edgbaston on August 2.

See Also: WCL 2025: India Champions announced their squad for upcoming season

Pakistan Champions Squad – WCL 2025

The Pakistan Champions 2025 WCL team consists of: Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sharjeel Khan, Wahab Riaz, Asif Ali, Kamran Akmal, Aamer Yamin, Sohail Khan, and Sohail Tanvir

The terror attack incident in Lahore stadium still haunted the Sri Lankan cricketer. When the two nations faced each other in the final of the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, the past experience between Pakistan and Sri Lanka added an extra layer to that title decider match.

Throughout the tournament, Sri Lanka had a crazy run until they reached the grand finale. SL's unbeaten run before the last match was because the brand of cricket they produced was something new at that time. Their batsmen, especially Tillakaratne Dilshan, were formerly innovative. Despite finishing second in the tournament, the Sri Lankan opener was awarded as the highest run scorer and the player of the series of the 2009 T20I World Cup.

Before the final, Pakistan was the less favored side to win the trophy. But when the match started, things started to look different. Pakistan, led by Younis Khan, adopted an attacking approach from the beginning of the match and plucked the wicket of Dilshan, utilizing young Mohammad Amir. Dilshan's wicket was massive. Within the opener, Kumar Sangakkara's team lacked power at the top and produced only 34 for 4 after six.

Read More: WATCH: Sanjay Manjrekar takes cheeky dig at Virat Kohli in ongoing first Test between England and India

Shahid Afridi became the trump card of the team 

The revival of Abdul Razzaq helped Pakistan a lot. In the final, the experienced pacer claimed 3 wickets against 20 runs in his 3-over spell. But the trump card of the Green Brigade was Shahid Afridi. Promoting him to the number three position worked magically for Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi scored 129 runs in his last three innings, after he moved up to No. 3, at a strike rate of 148.27. His hard-hitting continued against Sri Lanka; in the final game, it continued. After claiming 1 wicket, the all-rounder scored a match-winning 54* off 40 and inked his and his nation's name in the history book forever. 

After making several controversial remarks amid India and Pakistan tension, former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi conducted a rally against India, which is labeled as the 'victory' rally. Multiple videos of the rally are currently surfing on the internet. Afridi openly criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the present situation and claimed that Pakistan has always been devoted to maintaining peace. 

As a reply to the Pahalgam terror attack incident, India conducted Operation Sindoor. As per reports, under this maneuver, the Indian armed forces targeted multiple prime locations in Pakistan, but at first, the Indian Air Force destroyed 9 militant locations in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that India will not participate in any bilateral series with Pakistan. Over the years, for multiple terrorist-linked incidents, Pakistan was at the center of the stage, including the Pahalgam incident. But Afridi thinks differently, as he questioned, No one can blame his country without any strong evidence. According to the former cricketer, because of PM Modi, the reputation of India is at risk around the globe. 

Read More: WATCH: Indian Army DGMO shares his views on Virat Kohli retirement

"You (Modi) do not allow cricket teams in Pakistan. There is so much hate generated there against us. What kind of mindset is it? Innocent children and civilians were martyred. Show me one proof that the Pakistani army targeted Indian civilians." Afridi questioned. 

Claims about army as well

He also made some huge claims about the latest clash between the two forces of nations. Afridi congratulated the Pakistan Army and said they got the upper hand. 

"Our army has shown who is stronger. They (Indians) underestimated us. They had no idea about our skills or the technology that we use. Try to engage in a war, and the world will come to know who is stronger. Pakistan has suffered from terrorism for a long time. We have lost many soldiers to it," Sahid Afridi said from the rally. 

Watch the rally here:

Shahid Afridi leading a so called 'victory rally' in Karachi.

- Just like their army, everyone is delusional. pic.twitter.com/OnHRvmbzax

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 12, 2025

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has raised the tensions between India and Pakistan yet again. After the attack, cricketers from both nations have been sharing their views. Amidst rising tensions, former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made comments that are sure to provoke a response from Indians. Afridi criticized India for accusing Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam attack without presenting any evidence. He went further, blaming the Indian Army’s incompetence for the attack and labeling them as "useless."

Speaking on Samaa TV, Shahid Afridi criticized India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The former Pakistan skipper also remarked that even if a firecracker went off, India would blame Pakistan. Afridi pointed out that despite having an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir, such incidents still occurred, which, according to him, reflected the incompetence and inefficiency of the Indian forces. The star Pakistan all-rounder expressed surprise at how quickly Indian media sensationalized the attack, comparing their coverage to a Bollywood production. Afridi added that he found the media’s reactions amusing and questioned the mindset of those who, despite claiming to be educated, reacted in such a manner.

"Patakha phat jaata hai wahaan par, Pakistan ne kiya (Even if a firecracker bursts there, they will blame it on Pakistan). Tum logon ki 8 lakh ki fauz 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 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you couldn't provide security to the people). 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). 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). Main keh raha tha dekho inki soch, yeh apne aap ko padhe likhe log kehte hain (I was saying, look at their thinking, and they call themselves educated people)," Afridi said on Samaa TV

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Watch what Afridi said on camera

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by SAMAA TV (@samaatv)

Two former India cricketers also blamed Pakistan: Shahid Afridi

During his comments, Afridi pointed out that without directly naming anyone, two former Indian cricketers, who had represented India extensively and even served as ambassadors of the game, were very quick to accuse Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack. The right-hand batter also expressed disappointment that despite their vast experience and status in the cricketing world, they chose to blame Pakistan without presenting any concrete evidence. The leg spinner also suggested that such actions were irresponsible, especially coming from individuals who held significant influence and were expected to maintain a balanced and mature approach during sensitive times.

"Do cricketers jo India se itni cricket khele hue hain. Ambassadors reh chuke hain, top cricketers reh chuke hain unki taraf se direct Pakistan (There are two cricketers who have played so much cricket for India. They have been ambassadors and top cricketers, yet they directly blame Pakistan)," Afridi also added.