Overview

• In an August 17 interview with The Lallantop, Pathan accused Pakistanis of acting as self-appointed guardians of Muslims worldwide and urged them to address their own challenges first.
• He revisited a decades-old feud with Shahid Afridi, recalling Afridi’s “fake Pathan” jibe, a 2006 mid-air spat and his own record of dismissing Afridi 11 times, including a golden duck in the 2007 T20 World Cup final.
• Major Indian and regional sports outlets rapidly circulated Pathan’s remarks after his interview, highlighting both his criticism of Pakistan’s public posture on Islam and his personal anecdotes.
• Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria endorsed Pathan’s depiction of Afridi in a social media post, condemning Afridi’s personal attacks and saying he lacked “class and decency.”
• No formal response has emerged from Afridi or national cricket boards, even as India and Pakistan prepare to meet on September 14 in Group A of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai.