Over the years the hype around IND vs PAK fixtures has reached heights. The same is the case when India will lock horns with Pakistan in their opening fixture of Asia Cup 2023. This age-old rivalry has given birth to some great face-offs among the players of both teams. Whether it’s Javed Miandad vs. Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan vs. Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar vs. Shoaib Akhtar, or Virat Kohli vs. Pakistani bowlers, the joy of watching these players coming in front of each other is inevitable. One such brewing rivalry will be seen when Shubman Gill will come in front of Shaheen Afridi.
When did Shubman Gill & Shaheen Afridi’s sledging moment happen?
This will be the first time Shubman Gill will face Shaheen Shah Afridi on the International front. But this is not the first time both the players have faced each other. Back in the ICC U19 World Cup in 2018 in New Zealand, the duo indulged in a fierce battle. It was a semi-final clash & Shubman Gill was at 86 against Pakistan. The prolific player was welcomed by a fiery bouncer by a Pakistani pacer. Soon, Shaheen and the other pacer Muhammad Musa sledged Shubman. Shaheen & his bowling partner came to Shubman Gill & said to him “Hum Bangladesh ke bowlers nahi hai (We are not Bangladesh’s bowlers). I said nothing.”
The Pakistani bowlers wanted to make a point that they were not Bangladesh bowlers against whom Shubman could score freely. However, Shubman didn’t lose his cool & kept his calm. However, he knew what he wanted to do to give them a fitting reply. The youngster in the very next over pulled one of the fast bowlers & while running 22 yards for a run he told the duo of Shaheen & Musa that “I am not a Pakistani batter either.”
Five years down after that incident, IND vs. PAK Asia Cup 2023 fixture will be a day when the duo will again face each other. There is a likelihood that Shubman could be facing the first ball of his over bowled by Shaheen & both of them will surely have that heated exchange, from 5 years ago, in their minds. Both the players have come a long way from those U19 days. While Shubamn Gill is named among the Indian team’s top batters, Shahen has become Pakistan’s best pacer. Both are just 23 years & are doing well in their respective fields. Fans will surely get to witness more Shaheen Afridi vs. Shubman Gill rivalries in the near future.
Also read, Will the IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023 fixture get canceled?
