Shahid Afridi breaks silence on India-Pakistan match fiasco: There is one rotten egg
Afridi called Dhawan a 'rotten egg' and blamed him for 'spoiling' the rest of the Indian cricketers.
"...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," Shahid Afridi told the media on Sunday, July 20.Afridi further added fuel to the fire by insinuating that Dhawan was an embarrassment for his nation. He went on to add that the Indian team should have stayed home if they did not want to play cricket at the WCL 2025."They trained a 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," Afridi said. Shahid Afridi's Double StandardsThe words of sports diplomacy come in sharp contrast to the comments made by Shahid Afridi in the month of April, where he had alleged that the Indian government carried out attacks on its own citizens in Pahalgam."The terrorists continued to kill people in Pahalgam for an hour, and not a single Indian soldier out of 8 lakh showed up. But when they did, they blamed Pakistan," Afridi had told local reporters in Pakistan."India carries out terrorism itself, kills its own people, and then puts the blame on Pakistan," he said.On Sunday, Afridi turned up in another avatar, stating that he was there as an ambassador of cricket and was hugely disappointed that the match did not take place at Edgbaston.advertisement"We were very excited to play the second match (vs India). I thought we would be at the ground. We were expecting 17,000–18,000 fans, who would have enjoyed the match. But yeah, it is quite disappointing that we did not play," he said on Sunday.Afridi further claimed that if he had known that the Indian team had problems with his presence, he would have removed himself from Sunday's game."If they did not play for me, I would have stayed home. Cricket should have continued. Who is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? No one. If they did not want to play why did they come here? Go sit at home and play between yourselves," he added.The India vs Pakistan match at WCL 2025 was supposed to be the first cricketing event between India and Pakistan since Operation Sindoor. However, the match was called off after a massive backlash from Indian citizens on social media, who questioned the former cricketers for participating in an event alongside Pakistan cricketers amid cross-border tensions with the neighbouring state.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
8 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
India asks citizens to avoid travelling to border areas of Cambodia, Thailand amid clashes
India's embassies in Thailand and Cambodia have asked Indian citizens not to travel to the border areas of the two countries amid clashes between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. The diplomatic mission in Cambodia on Saturday issued an advisory urging Indians to avoid going to the border areas. The embassy also shared emergency contact details for Indian citizens requiring assistance. 'In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676 or email it added. This came a day after the Indian embassy in Thailand advised Indian travellers to check updates issued by Thai authorities. A link to an update shared by the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that 'border zones' had been affected in seven provinces because of restrictions and that martial law had been imposed in select districts. These places are not recommended for travelling, the Indian embassy quoted the Thai tourism authority as saying. The advisories came amid the worst border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in 13 years. Fighting, which began on Wednesday, has involved heavy artillery, air strikes and rocket fire across several disputed border areas. At least 33 persons have been killed in the conflict. Of the 13 deaths in Cambodia, eight were civilians and five soldiers. In Thailand, six military personnel and 14 civilians were killed, AFP reported. While Bangkok has accused Phnom Penh of targeting civilians and using rockets, Cambodia has condemned Thailand's alleged use of cluster munitions, Reuters reported. The fighting marks a sharp escalation in a long-running dispute between the countries that contest several stretches of land along their border. At least 28 persons had dead in previous clashes between 2008 and 2011. A 2013 United Nations court ruling had largely eased tensions. But the current crisis was triggered in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a fresh clash, AFP reported.
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Frequent disruptions in Parliament harm Opposition more than government: Kiren Rijiju
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that frequent disruptions in the House hurt the Opposition more, as they lose the crucial opportunity to hold the government accountable. The remarks came after the first week of the ongoing monsoon session was largely washed out due to repeated protests by Opposition MPs. Speaking at the Sansad Ratna Awards event organised by Prime Point Foundation, Rijiju recalled how bureaucrats sometimes express relief when Parliament is adjourned. 'Let me tell you, officers are relieved when Parliament doesn't function because they escape the grilling. The government can be held accountable in Parliament. When the House runs, ministers face tough questions. When it adjourns within minutes, those questions don't even get raised. Opposition loses more than the government when Parliament is disrupted,' he said. 'Those who stall the House think they are damaging the government, but in truth, they are weakening their own role in a democracy,' Rijiju added. Reinforcing the importance of parliamentary accountability, the minister said, 'In any democracy, the government must answer to the people through Parliament. That is why allowing the House to run is essential for a functioning democracy.' Reflecting on his journey in Parliament, Rijiju said he never considered Opposition MPs as adversaries. 'We are all colleagues. Before 2014, most of my parliamentary career has been on the Opposition benches. Political rivalries may exist, but there is no enmity,' he said. Drawing from a quote by Winston Churchill, Rijiju said, 'A new MP once asked Churchill about the people sitting across the aisle, and he said they were political opponents. But when asked about those sitting on his side, he said they were our political enemies. That is politics, but we are not enemies.' Rijiju also said there is undue burden on Indian legislators compared to their counterparts in developed countries. 'There, one MP represents approximately 66,000 people. Here, it is over 20 lakh. They are not asked to fix drains or get someone out of jail. But our MPs deal with personal grievances, infrastructure and law enforcement issues and are still expected to perform in the House,' he said. 'Despite all this, they are often criticised. Every elected MP deserves respect, it is not an easy job.' Recalling his own early experiences, Rijiju shared a humorous but telling anecdote. 'The first time I met Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, I had gone to request a room for MPs who smoke. He scolded me, saying, 'This is your first meeting with the Speaker and this is what you've come for?' I got a good scolding that day and learned I should approach such offices with more purpose.' He also reflected on how senior leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani set examples of decorum. 'Back then, we would think twice before speaking because stalwarts were listening. Now disruptions begin on day one. Maybe social media has changed the game.' Calling for more constructive media reporting, Rijiju said, 'Earlier, journalists would arrive at 9 am and cover parliamentary debates till night. Good speeches got coverage. Today, headlines go to who created the most ruckus. I remember Sharad Pawar once presented an excellent agriculture policy, but the next day not a single paper mentioned it. So now, MPs chase headlines because good work is neither reported nor recognised.' 'Negative news drives TRPs, not constructive action. It is a vicious cycle — both the MPs and the media are trapped in it,' he said. Rijiju congratulated all the recipients of this year's Sansad Ratna Awards, including Supriya Sule, Bhartruhari Mahtab, N K Premachandran, and Shrirang Appa Barne, who received special jury awards for consistent performance in the 16th, 17th, and the current Lok Sabha. 'Whenever any parliamentarian is recognised for good work, we should all celebrate together, cutting across party lines,' Rijiju said. National Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir took a swipe at the Opposition, saying, 'Those who claim to be followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar bring disrepute to the country by speaking against it abroad'.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
8 minutes ago
- Business Standard
PM Modi's 'friendship' with President Trump proving to be hollow: Congress
The Congress on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "much boasted friendship" with US President Donald Trump is now proving to be "hollow" and cited several overtures the latter recently made to Pakistan. In a post on X, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh also alleged that Indian diplomacy was failing in the light of the US partnering with Pakistan. "The abject failure of Indian diplomacy, especially in the past two months, is revealed most tellingly by four facts. These expose the tall claims made by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters and cheerleaders," he said in his post. Ramesh said that since May 10, 2025, Trump has claimed 25 times that "he personally intervened to stop Operation Sindoor, threatening India and Pakistan that if they didn't bring the war to a halt, they would not have a trade agreement with the USA." On June 10, 2025, he claimed, Gen Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command, hailed Pakistan as a phenomenal partner of the US in countering terrorism. On June 18, 2025, Trump held an unprecedented luncheon meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in the White House, Ramesh noted. "Two months earlier, Munir's inflammatory, incendiary, and communally provocative remarks had provided the backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22, 2025," he said. Just yesterday, the Congress leader claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and thanked Pakistan for its partnership in countering terrorism and preserving regional stability. "The PM's clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, has already cost India heavily. His much boasted friendship with President Trump is now proving to be hollow," Ramesh said in his post.
