logo
'There's one bad egg...': Shahid Afridi breaks silence after India pull out of WCL clash against Pakistan

'There's one bad egg...': Shahid Afridi breaks silence after India pull out of WCL clash against Pakistan

Time of India4 days ago
Pakistan's former cricketer Shahid Afridi displays the trophy before start of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between England and South Africa, in Karachi, Pakistan Saturday, March 1, 2025. AP/PTI
Former Pakistan captain
Shahid Afridi
has launched a scathing attack on Indian players for pulling out of the match a day before the World Championship of Legends (WCL) clash between the two countries.
"We are here to play cricket, and I've always said that cricket should be kept away from politics — it should move forward. A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country," Afridi told reporters.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The second edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tournament, which is co-owned by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn, started on June 18 at Edgbaston and is scheduled to conclude with the final on August 2.
World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh is the captain of the India Champions, while the squad also features the likes of Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Varun Aaron, among others.
The Pakistan team has in its ranks captain Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal, among a host of yesteryear players.
"We've come here to play cricket. If [India] didn't want to play against Pakistan, they should've refused before coming here.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
No annual fees for life
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
But now you've arrived, even held practice sessions, and then suddenly changed everything in a single day," said Afridi.
Former India opener Dhawan also shared a statement on X, announcing his stand not to participate in the match against Pakistan.
"This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025," read his statement.
Dhawan made it clear that he has taken the call in view of the current "geopolitical" situation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the
Pahalgam terror attack
and the ensuing Operation Sindoor carried out by the country.
Afridi, without taking any names, lambasted one cricketer and called him a "bad egg."
"Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? Until we sit together and discuss issues, nothing will improve — lack of communication only makes things worse," he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of England Test series
"We've come here to play cricket, to have one-on-one interactions and friendly conversations. But sometimes, there's one bad egg that spoils everything for everyone else."
"If I had known the match was being stopped because of me, I wouldn't have even gone to the ground. But cricket should go on. What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing," he said.
"The game comes first. As a sport, cricket is the biggest thing.
Bringing politics into it, or an Indian cricketer saying he won't play against Pakistan — then don't play, just sit out. But sport is bigger, cricket is bigger, and it's bigger than Shahid Afridi too," added Afridi.
Off-spin legend Harbhajan, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Yusuf, who is also a Member of Parliament, and Irfan too have conveyed their decision to boycott the match against Pakistan, though they are yet to issue a statement in this regard.
The players received a lot of flak on social media for agreeing to play against the Pakistan team.
India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the inaugural edition of the six-team legends tournament last year at Edgbaston.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Donald Trump signs NIL executive order to stop pay-for-play in college sports and protect scholarships
Donald Trump signs NIL executive order to stop pay-for-play in college sports and protect scholarships

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Donald Trump signs NIL executive order to stop pay-for-play in college sports and protect scholarships

Donald Trump signs NIL executive order to stop pay-for-play in college sports and protect scholarships (Image via Getty) On July 24, 2025 in Washington, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order. It aims to bring federal rules around name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports. The move follows growing concern that uncontrolled booster spending and state-by-state NIL laws have disrupted fair competition. The White House fact sheet says the order seeks to protect scholarships, women's and non‑revenue sports, and clarify whether student‑athletes count as employees or not. What Donald Trump wants to change in college sports with his NIL and pay-for-play decision On July 24, 2025 in Washington, President Donald Trump issued the 'Saving College Sports' executive order. It explicitly bans third‑party 'pay‑for‑play' NIL payments to college athletes, while still allowing fair‑market value endorsements from brands. The White House states that booster payments used to recruit athletes threaten competitive balance and siphon resources from smaller sports programs. The order requires athletic departments with $125 million or more in revenue during the 2024‑25 season to expand scholarships and roster spots in women's and non‑revenue sports. Departments earning between $50 million and $125 million must at least maintain current support, and those below $50 million must not cut opportunities for non‑revenue sports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Donald Trump joins Charlie Baker and Congress in reshaping college sports and athlete status laws NCAA President Charlie Baker commented on July 24 at a Washington event, saying the NCAA is open to executive ideas but stressed that real change needs lawmakers: 'our focus needs to be on the legislative process.' He supports clearer rules via Congress, not just executive orders. That same day, House committee leaders,Reps. Brett Guthrie, Tim Walberg and Jim Jordan praised the order and said the SCORE Act, a bill to reinforce NIL and antitrust protections, will move forward in the fall session. They stated: 'We thank President Trump for his commitment to supporting student‑athletes and strengthening college athletics in the NIL era.' The order also told U.S. officials including the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services and the FTC chair to define athlete employment status and use regulatory or legal tools to support stability in college sports. Many legal experts question how much lasting impact the order will have without congressional backing. Also Read: Donald Trump Backs Possible UFC Fight As Michael Chandler Targets White House Battle With Conor McGregor FAQs 1. What does Donald Trump's NIL executive order mean for college athletes? It bans pay-for-play deals but still allows fair brand endorsements for student-athletes. 2. Will Trump's executive order affect college sports scholarships? Yes, it aims to protect and expand scholarships, especially in women's and non-revenue sports. 3. Is pay-for-play now illegal under Trump's NIL order? Yes, the order stops colleges from using third-party money to recruit athletes unfairly. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!

PGTI asks players to reaffirm allegiance, or face expulsion
PGTI asks players to reaffirm allegiance, or face expulsion

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

PGTI asks players to reaffirm allegiance, or face expulsion

Pune: Is Indian golf staring at its own 'LIV' moment? The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has asked its players to sign a declaration form, re-affirming their allegiance to the body and declaring they would not compete in any rival tournament. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The move comes when the tour is on a mid-season break, and in the wake of the launch of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), which has been sanctioned by the Indian Golf Union and approved by the sports ministry. "I shall not engage in, or associate with any activity, event or organization that is detrimental to the interests … of the Society. I shall not participate in any professional golf event that conflicts with official PGTI-sanctioned tournaments without prior written approval … as per Clause 1.10 of the PGTI Handbook," reads a part of the form sent out to the players. Amandeep Johl, Chief Executive Officer of the PGTI, sought to play down the development. "There is nothing new in the form. It is part of the PGTI Handbook. This is Appendix 2, which is a standard registration form, which has been there forever," Johl told The Times of India. He, however, admitted that the move was prompted by the imminent launch of a rival 'entity'. "I have no problem with my player playing anywhere, in India or abroad, private or public, but you can't have your foot in both the boards. That's not fair to the rest of the membership," he said. "Choose where you want to go, my best wishes. I am happy that there are 30 players who are going to earn a new livelihood, a better livelihood, if they feel it is a better livelihood. " Earlier, PGTI president and former India cricket captain Kapil Dev had written a strongly worded letter to the players warning them against being "part of a REBEL TOUR" which was "designed to create division and disruption", urging them to "stand united", else face "disciplinary action including suspension". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The IGPL envisions a city-based league with three-day events that have no cuts. It has so far signed up 30 players — a mix of active veterans like Gaganjeet Bhullar; seniors like Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa; as well as some competing on the PGTI Tour, and about 10 players from WPGTI. Its management includes some of the founding members of PGTI. Asked why PGTI couldn't co-sanction the league like the women's tour has done, Johl said the discussions failed at a nascent stage. "They did reach out to us, but the demands were a little unacceptable to PGTI," he said, without disclosing the details. Johl reminded that PGTI was the Indian body recognized by the US PGA and DP World Tour, and awarded world ranking points which enables a player to represent the country at Olympics and Asian Games. He said the two tours would be able to co-exist provided "they talk on a level-playing field." "We are an 18-year-old body. Their brand is not even registered," he said.

Koneru Humpy braces for 'tough' all-Indian FIDE Women's World Cup final: 'Divya has played tremendously well...'
Koneru Humpy braces for 'tough' all-Indian FIDE Women's World Cup final: 'Divya has played tremendously well...'

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

Koneru Humpy braces for 'tough' all-Indian FIDE Women's World Cup final: 'Divya has played tremendously well...'

Koneru Humpy outclassed Chinese top-seed Lei Tingjie in the tie-breaks to win the FIDE Women's World Cup semi-final 5-3 and set up an all-Indian final against Divya Deshmukh, who had defeated Tan Zhongyi on the previous day. read more Koneru Humpy set-up an all-Indian final against Divya Deshmukh at the FIDE Women's World Cup after defeating China's Lei Tingjie in the semi-finals. Image credit: FIDE Koneru Humpy fought back from 2-3 down in the tie-breaks against Lei Tingjie to defeat the Chinese top-seed 5-3 and advance to the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup in Batumi, Georgia on Thursday. Veteran Grandmaster Humpy, in the process, set up a dream all-Indian final against International Master Divya Deshmukh, who had triumphed in the other Sino-Indian semi-final with a 1.5-0.5 victory over Tan Zhongyi on Wednesday. Humpy had found herself in a winning position earlier during the Classical round of the semi-final, and could have clinched victory on Wednesday itself but for a late fightback from GM Lei that resulted in Game 2 ending in a draw. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lei would then find herself on the verge of victory on the following day, defeating Humpy with white pieces in the third rapid tie-break game (10+10) on Thursday after the first two – with time controls of 15+10 – ended in a draw. The 38-year-old Indian GM, however, bounced back in style to clinch the must-win fourth game in just 39 moves and keep her hopes of reaching the final alive. There was no looking back for the reigning women's rapid world champion thereafter she would go win both blitz tie-breaks (5+3) to complete a 5-3 victory over the 2022 Women's Candidates winner. Humpy vs Divya to decide the World Cup champion Humpy set her sights on the mouth-watering showdown against Divya after beating Lei, and described the all-Indian final as 'one of the happiest moments for chess fans'. 'I think it's one of the happiest moments for the chess fans… but of course as a player tomorrow it will be quite a tough game as well. Divya has played tremendously well in this whole tournament,' Humpy was quoted by as saying after her victory over Lei. Also Read | Divya Deshmukh finally establishes herself among chess' elite with historic run to Women's World Cup final Humpy, however, wasn't entirely impressed with her performance against Lei, adding that she struggled with black pieces against her highly-rated opponent. 'It was a very tough match and she also gave a very good fight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I think initially I played quite bad with the black pieces and she always had the advantage. After the loss, it was a very difficult situation, but I was able to come back,' she added. Besides entering the World Cup final, Humpy and Divya have also qualified for the Women's Candidates next year by virtue of being guaranteed a top-three finish in the ongoing tournament. That's at least two Indians battling it out to earn the right to challenge China's Ju Wenjun for the FIDE Women's World Championship. The final gets underway on Saturday and could extend till Monday, 28 July, if the contest goes into the tie-breaks. The all-Chinese third-place playoff between Lei and Tan will be taking place around the same time, with the winner joining the two Indians at the Candidates.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store