Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi got involved in a spat towards the end of the first innings during a PSL live match in Abu Dhabi
During the Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators match of the Pakistan Super League, one of Afridi’s bouncers hit Sarfaraz on the helmet. The umpire called the delivery a no-ball. As the ball went down to third man afterwards, Sarfaraz took the run and went to the non-striker’s end. He apparently had something to say to the young pacer who didn’t take too kindly to the words of his former Pakistan captain.
Watch PSL 2021 Live: Sarfaraz Ahmed And Shaheen Afridi Get Involved In A Verbal Spat
Afridi, thus, walked down from his run-up aggressively for a face-off. The situation got heated up immediately leading to intervention from the umpire. Lahore captain Sohail Akhtar and senior Muhammad Hafeez also came rushing to cool down both the players. The Gladiators were struggling to put bat to ball against Afridi. Sarfaraz really riled up Afridi when he asked him to stop bowling bouncers leading to this verbal spat.
An exchange of words between @SarfarazA_54 and @iShaheenAfridi
Who do you think, was at the wrong side? 🤔#MatchDikhao #Sarfaraz #ShaheenAfridi #LQvQG #PSL6pic.twitter.com/iNbyN0d8wz
— Cricset.pk (@cricsetpk) June 15, 2021
In a post-match interview, former player and current commentator Ramiz Raja asked Afridi about the incident, as to why he had bowled the bouncer and had hit Ahmed on the helmet. Following was Afridi’s response. “You see Ramiz bhai, it’s part of the game. Even I don’t wish for someone to hit me for a four, so in the game, this is what a fast bowler’s aggression looks like.” To this, Raja replied, “That’s a really good thing, we really like this aggression. If you don’t do it, who will?”
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Fans have been debating the aggressive actions of Shaheen Afridi towards his former captain and senior player. On the other hand, many people defended the left arm seamer as well. Lahore Qalandars fell short of 18 runs chasing 159 runs in the twenty overs. They handed over the Quetta Gladiators their second win in this season of Pakistan Super League.
Both the cricketers have also been reprimanded and asked to maintain restraint if such a situation arises in the future.