Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has delivered a fiery response to the controversial actions of Pakistan cricketers Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan during the recent India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 encounter. The post-match atmosphere has been filled with debates, after Indian openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma hinted at unnecessary aggression from their rivals on the field.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan explained that while India prefers to let the bat and ball do the talking, Pakistan’s over-the-top aggression was uncalled for. “India wins, India moves forward. That’s the magic of Indian cricket. But yesterday we saw unnecessary banter and classless behavior. Abhishek even admitted they said things they shouldn’t have. Our players replied on social media — you keep talking, we will keep winning,” said Pathan.
The former star emphasized that Indian players rarely engage in verbal wars. “Indian cricketers stay calm. We don’t need to speak much. But if someone crosses the line, whether it’s Australia or Pakistan, we will respond. And our answers will come with the bat, with our performance,” he added.
Pathan on Pakistan’s mindset
Pathan highlighted how Pakistan tends to take rivalries too far compared to India. He cited Pakistan’s shocking T20 World Cup 2022 loss to Zimbabwe, which India’s analysts treated only as a technical breakdown, not as an opportunity for mockery. “We never bothered to ridicule them. We analyze matches professionally, not emotionally. But they act differently whenever India is in the picture,” Pathan noted.
Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan criticized
The ex-cricketer expressed disappointment with Haris Rauf’s taunts and Sahibzada Farhan’s gun celebration during Sunday’s match. “With the tension between our countries, such celebrations are unnecessary and provocative. Haris Rauf, I once thought was grounded, but his actions yesterday were disappointing. These gestures only reflect their mindset and upbringing,” Pathan stated firmly.
Concluding his remarks, Pathan warned Pakistan cricketers not to mistake India’s calmness for weakness. “If you mess with India, we will not let you go. That is our rule. You can celebrate however you like, but on the field, we will always respond in the strongest way possible,” he declared.
India’s seventh consecutive win over Pakistan has only widened the gap between the two sides, leading fans and experts to question whether Pakistan still deserves to be called India’s true cricketing rival.