Shubman Gill and Shaheen Afridi were involved in a heated exchange during the Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday night. The contest is being held in the backdrop of the week-long drama after PCB threatened to boycott the competition in wake of India’s handshake snub with Pakistani players.
After belting a boundary off the sixth delivery of the third over, bowled by Shaheen Afridi as India chased 172 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Gill pointed his hand towards the direction of his shot while staring at the Pakistan left-arm pacer.
Shubman Gill Cook Shaheen Afridipic.twitter.com/PJYhkFXBA3 https://t.co/KpvLbqT5Yy
— Honest Cricket Lover (@Honest_Cric_fan) September 21, 2025
This was just one of the
fiery moments in the early part of India’s sizzling start as the opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Gill stitched a century stand to pummel hapless Pakistan bowlers.
Abhishek started the chase with a stunning first-ball six off Afridi and the two immediately exchanged words with the India rising star firing expletives at the Pakistan bowler’s direction.
Later, Abhishek was involved in an animated altercation with another Pakistan pacer, Haris Rauf which forced the on-field umpire Gazi Sohel to intervene. The 25-year-old left-handed batter soon brought up a quickfire 24-ball half-century having struck four fours and as many sixes.
Butterfingers India
Earlier, India captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl first in what was the second meeting between the two teams in the ongoing tournament. Indian fielders had an off day as four catches were dropped including that of Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan who capitalized on two lifelines to score a half-century. Pakistan posted a decent 171/5 in 20 overs with Faheem Ashraf providing the late flourish, hitting an unbeaten 20 off 8.
For India, Shivam Dube was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/33 from four overs.
Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya chipped in with a wicket each while Jasprit Bumrah had a rare off-day, going wicketless in his four overs in which Pakistan scored 45 runs.