Amidst the heated atmosphere surrounding the cancelled India vs Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, a heartwarming gesture by former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has captured the attention of cricket fans worldwide. A picture circulating on social media shows Afridi signing an autograph on an Indian cricket jersey during the WCL 2025 in the United Kingdom.
The image surfaced after Afridi criticized Indian Champions players who withdrew from their WCL 2025 match against Pakistan Champions. The match was called off due to the withdrawal of several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan.
The picture of Afridi signing the Indian jersey has evoked positive reactions from fans, with many praising his gesture as a symbol of sportsmanship and a bridge between the two cricket-loving nations. One user on X wrote, "Heartwarming moment: Shahid Afridi graciously signs an autograph on an Indian cricket jersey for a fan. A beautiful gesture bridging cricket nations!".
Afridi's act of signing the Indian jersey stands in contrast to the recent controversy surrounding the cancellation of the India-Pakistan match in the WCL 2025. The match, scheduled for July 20, was cancelled after widespread outrage. Adding fuel to the fire were old photos of WCL co-owner and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn alongside Afridi that resurfaced.
Afridi has also spoken out about the cancellation of the match, expressing his disappointment and emphasizing that cricket should be kept away from politics. He stated that players should be good ambassadors for their countries and that if India did not want to play against Pakistan, they should have refused before arriving for the tournament.
This is not the first time Afridi has displayed goodwill towards Indian fans. In 2023, a video went viral showing Afridi signing an Indian flag for a fan. That gesture also drew widespread praise on social media. In 2017, members of Team India presented Shahid Afridi with an autographed Virat Kohli jersey, with the message "Shahid Bhai, best wishes, always a pleasure playing against you". The jersey was signed by Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, and other Indian players. This gesture earned Kohli and the Indian team praise in Pakistan.
