Overview

• Shahid Afridi called Rahul Gandhi a man with a "very positive mindset" who favors dialogue, while accusing the BJP government of using a Hindu–Muslim divide and comparing India’s stance to Israel.
• BJP figures including Kiren Rijiju, Amit Malviya and Shehzad Poonawalla seized on the remarks to question Gandhi’s loyalties, labeling him Pakistan’s "darling" in posts on X.
• Congress and other opposition leaders pushed back by sharing images of Afridi with BJP leaders such as Anurag Thakur and noting that a viral clip of Afridi with Anurag Thakur and Jay Shah was from February’s Champions Trophy, not the Asia Cup.
• The political row followed India’s seven‑wicket win over Pakistan in Dubai, where Team India skipped customary handshakes in the first meeting since April’s Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
• The PCB’s complaint seeking the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft was rejected by the ICC, and reports indicate a threatened Pakistan withdrawal from the tournament is unlikely.