IND vs PAK | ‘Afridi has eaten dog meat’ – Irfan Pathan recalls ugly war of words with ex-Pak skipper

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IND vs PAK | ‘Afridi has eaten dog meat’ – Irfan Pathan recalls ugly war of words with ex-Pak skipper

Pakistan's former cricketer Shahid Afridi displays the trophy before start of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between England and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Saturday, March 1, 2025. AP/PTI

The India-Pakistan rivalry has never lacked drama, and Irfan Pathan has now added fresh fuel to the fire with a sensational recollection of his battles with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. Speaking candidly, Pathan revisited the fiery exchanges that often spilled beyond cricket, recalling Afridi’s controversial jibes, including his bizarre claim of having eaten dog meat.The former India allrounder, who dismissed Afridi 11 times in international cricket, revealed how those remarks stoked his determination every time he faced the flamboyant Pakistani.

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During the 2006 tour, while travelling by flight from Karachi to Lahore with both teams on board, Shahid Afridi and Irfan Pathan were involved in a heated exchange."Abdul Razzaq was sitting with me then. I asked him what kind of meat is available here.

He told me about the different kinds of meat. Then I asked if dog meat was available. Afridi was sitting right there. Razzaq was shocked to hear this and said, 'Hey Irfan, why are you saying this?'" Pathan said on Lallantop.

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"I said, 'He (Afridi) has eaten dog meat, he has been barking for a long time.'"After that, Afridi couldn’t say anything. Whatever he might have said, I would have just replied, 'Look, he is barking again.'

After this, he remained silent throughout the flight."From this incident, he understood that he could not win against me verbally. That’s why he never said anything to me again," he added.Pathan, who had immense success against Pakistan in his career — taking 67 wickets and scoring 807 runs, including a century — revealed what led to the verbal altercation."Afridi came and placed his hand on my head, messing up my hair. He asked me, 'How are you, kid?' I said, 'Since when have you become my father?' The childish behaviour was actually his. He was not my friend. After that, Afridi said some abusive words to me. His seat was right next to mine," he recollected.

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