With the Asia Cup 2025 underway, all eyes are on the much-awaited high-voltage clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The two neighbouring nations are set to lock horns on September 14th in a Group A league game.
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This would be the first time that the two sides will feature against each other in an international game after the border tensions earlier in April.
As the sides prepare for the all-important clash, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has riled up the Indian fans by taking a veiled dig at former Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh.
One bad egg can spoil everything, says Shahid Afridi on former India cricketer
Just a couple of months back, the Indian Champions, led by the great Indian Yuvraj Singh, decided to withdraw from the World Championship of Legends fixture against the Pakistan Champions.
The match had to be called off after several Indian cricketers, including Dhawan, Harbhajan, Raina, Pathan, Yuvraj, etc., decided to boycott the fixture. Moreover, social media was abuzz with outrage from Indian fans, which led the organizers to call off the clash.
In a statement on his social media, the Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan clarified his stance, confirming that he had informed the organizers well in advance of his decision not to play against Pakistan.
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Dhawan's statement was followed by an indirect dig from Afridi, who stated the Indian as 'one bad egg' and remarked, 'one bad egg can spoil everything.'
As India prepares to take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Afridi has once again put forward his opinion.
"I have always said that cricket should go on; it has always helped in making the relations better between the two countries. In England, people had bought tickets to see the WCL match, and the players had practised. Then you didn't play. What was the thinking? I just can't understand," Afridi said on Samaa TV.
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The Indian fans, however, are still divided in their opinions. While the Indian Government and the BCCI have cleared the clash to go ahead, the majority of Indian fans are against the decision and feel that India should cut all ties with Pakistan.
When is the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2024 match?
India and Pakistan will first lock horns on Sunday, September 14th, in a league game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The two sides can collide as many as three times during this competition. After their league games, the sides are likely to take on each other in the Super Four, which could be followed by a meeting in the Finals if both sides qualify.
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