Even though Irfan Pathan didn’t play as long as some of India’s greatest cricketers, few made such an impression in such a short period of time.
Pathan was a useful batter lower down the order and a left-arm swing bowler who could destroy batting lineups. He frequently saved his best efforts for the most intense stage, which was against Pakistan. Fans can never forget his hat-trick in Karachi in 2006 or his performance as Man of the Match in the 2007 T20 World Cup final.
However, Pathan and Pakistan’s rivalry went beyond simple run-and-wicket competition.
He also shared a fiery exchange with Shahid Afridi off the field — a 2006 episode that still brings a smile to his face.
However, Pathan had an especially acrimonious rivalry with Shahid Afridi among the Pakistani players. He dismissed Afridi eleven times on the field. Their interactions off the field were equally intense.
Afridi was stunned into silence by an incident from the 2006 tour of Pakistan, which Pathan just recounted.
“During the 2006 tour, we were flying from Karachi to Lahore. Both teams were on the same flight. Afridi came, put his hand on my head and messed up my hair. He said, ‘How are you kid?’” Pathan told Lallantop.
“I thought, since when did you become my father? I wasn’t even speaking to him. Then he started saying some unpleasant things. His seat was near mine, and he just wouldn’t stop.”
At that moment, Pathan made the decision to respond in a manner that Afridi wouldn’t have anticipated. Pathan, who was sitting next to Abdul Razzaq, an all-rounder for Pakistan, asked him nonchalantly, “Razzaq bhai, what kind of meat do you get here?”
Nearly all types of meat were available, Razzaq retorted. After that, Pathan delivered the punchline. “I asked him if dog meat was available. Razzaq looked shocked and asked me why I said that. I told him, ‘Afridi must have eaten dog meat, he’s been barking non-stop.’”
Pathan added that Afridi instantly fell silent.
“He didn’t say a word for the rest of the flight. He realized he wouldn’t be able to get the better of me verbally, and after that day he never tried again,” Pathan revealed.
