As the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 approaches, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has ignited a fresh controversy with provocative comments aimed at Indian cricketers and commentators. Speaking on a local television channel, Afridi accused some Indian players of "still trying to prove they are Indian". He went on to say that "Since birth, they've been trying to show that they are Indians, and now they are doing commentary in the Asia Cup,".

Afridi's remarks are likely to stir debate and reflect the heightened atmosphere surrounding the Asia Cup, where Pakistan and India are set to clash in Dubai on September 14. This match marks the first encounter between the two nations after recent tensions, adding a political edge to the sporting event.

While Afridi did not name anyone specifically, his comments were likely aimed at former Indian cricketers who are now working as commentators during the Asia Cup 2025. Some reports suggest that his remarks were targeted towards Robin Uthappa, who was part of the India Champions team in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) that refused to play against Pakistan. Other reports suggest that Afridi was aiming at Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, and Irfan Pathan.

Afridi has also criticized the fact that some of these players are now commentating at the Asia Cup, where India and Pakistan are set to clash. He seemed to be hinting at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 controversy, where a few Indian players, including Pathan, reportedly refused to play against Pakistan.

This is not the first time that Afridi has made controversial statements about India and Indian cricketers. He has often spoken about the importance of cricket in improving relations between the two countries but has also been critical of India's stance on playing bilateral matches.

Afridi also appeared to take a dig at ex-India opener Shikhar Dhawan by revisiting his infamous 'rotten egg' comment. In the past, Afridi had used the "one bad egg" phrase in reference to Dhawan after the Indian opener had stated that he would not participate in the WCL match against Pakistan. Afridi had initially used the "bad egg" comment after some Indian players withdrew from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) match against Pakistan. He alleged that the player he referred to as a "bad egg" was told by his captain not to tweet on social media if he did not want to play.

The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the most intense in the world of cricket, and matches between the two teams are always highly charged. With emotions already running high and Afridi's comments fanning the flames, the upcoming clash in Dubai promises to be one of the most emotionally charged encounters in the Asia Cup.