The high-voltage India-Pakistan matches always draw a variety of reactions from people across all walks of life (Image: https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan)
The highly anticipated Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy was called off due to heavy rain on Saturday. After the Group A fixture was called off due to a persistent drizzle in the Sri Lankan ground, both teams shared a point and Pakistan qualified for the Super 4s.
With Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya”s 138-run partnership, India had set a respectable total of 266 on the scoreboard. However, when the heavens opened up, India was left with the prospects of beating Nepal to advance to the next level. Team India now has to beat the Himalayan neighbours.
As the result was declared a draw, Twitter saw a conversation surrounding former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, prompted by a post the player-turned-commentator made on the match result.
The high-voltage India-Pakistan matches always draw a variety of reactions from people across all walks of life. Irfan did the same, but at the expense of being trolled by people from all political and geographical backgrounds.
“Many TVs of the neighbours have been spared today,” Pathan wrote on Twitter, referring to past incidents in which people from Pakistan had smashed TV sets after their national side defeated by India.
Bahot saare Padosiyon ke TV bach gaye aaj;)
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 2, 2023
Drawing attention to the current socio-political ecosystem that exists in the country now, some trolled him, saying that he was “trying to prove his nationalism.” Others said that it is normal for anyone to make such a comment when an India-Pakistan cricket match is played.
Some users, meanwhile, commented on the merit of the statement, since the Pakistan bowling attack did an exceptional job by not allowing India”s top order to do any fireworks. They also assumed what Babar Azam and his team would have done if the match had been played in full.
Irfan Pathan ne chutki Pakistan ke li, yahan ke kuch log kyu trigger ho gaye 😂😂
When it”s Ind vs Pak, it”s natural to troll Pakistan. No body does that with the intention of pleasing certain group.
Calm down and have a little laugh.
— Nimo Tai (@Cryptic_Miind) September 2, 2023
The all-rounder, who had played for Baroda, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, and Chennai Super Kings in the past, has not responded yet to the comments being made on his Twitter post.
This is quite a petty and shameless remark, even if the match had ended with India in a winning position. But to say this after Shaheen, Naseem & Rauf took 10 wickets for 129 runs and restricted India to 266, one needs an incredible lack of self-respect.
Shame on you, Irfan. https://t.co/PETjW8Z2CI
— Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) September 2, 2023
After licking this hard and for this long, Irfan Pathan gets called a Pakistani.
See, @IrfanPathan no matter how low you fall to please these nazis, they’ll never consider you their own. Your Muslim identity is all that matters. Grow a pair. pic.twitter.com/MlLQcCdnNr
— Saif (@isaifpatel) September 2, 2023
