Shahid Afridi Picks 'Banter-Boy' Gautam Gambhir Over 'Critic' Sarfraz Nawaz

One of the most exciting cricketers, Shahid Afridi had shared his thoughts on a few Indian players recently. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan journalist for CricinGif, Zainab Abbas; the former skipper picked ex-India opener, Gautam Gambhir over his most prominent critic, Sarfraz Nawaz. Though the question was incomplete, Afridi took a while before convincingly naming Gautam Gambhir. However, in the past, there have been a few instances when both these stalwarts have confronted each other.

Why Gambhir over Nawaz?

Since there was no clarity about the question raised, a few of the assumptions could provide some answers. However, it all began during Pakistan’s 2007 tour to India when Afridi and Gambhir took on each other. In one of the five ODIs, Gautam and Shahid got involved in a heated confrontation on the pitch. As both shared verbal volleys and were on each other’s face, the episode hogged all the limelight. Though no severe repercussions followed, the bad-blood among them raised.

Not only this, even in the past, when Shahid Afridi tweeted about the people of Kashmir; Gautam Gambhir backfired him, saying he shouldn’t put his nose in other country’s matters.

Afridi said,

Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 3, 2018

Gambhir replied,

Media called me for reaction on @SAfridiOfficial tweet on OUR Kashmir & @UN. What’s there to say? Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means “UNDER NINTEEN” his age bracket. Media can relax, @SAfridiOfficial is celebrating a dismissal off a no- ball!!!

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 3, 2018

What has Sarfraz Nawaz has to do with Shahid Afridi?

Sarfraz Nawaz is a former Pakistan bowler who has been outspoken in the media as well. In the past, he had been of Shahid Afridi’s most prominent critic; even once during the World T20 in India in 2016, he called the all-rounder as a liability for Pakistan. As it was Shahid’s last ICC tournament, Nawaz opined had Afridi not been the captain of the team, he wouldn’t be in the side.

“PCB should not go on ifs and buts hoping that Afridi would perform someday,” Sarfraz said.

Initially, during Afridi’s early playing days, India and Pakistan used to play bilateral series more often than not. Meanwhile, the number decreased significantly after what transpired in November 2007; the Mumbai Attack. As the political tensions rose, both the respective boards, BCCI and the PCB haven’t come to terms to resume the ties since then.

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