“He Has Eaten Dog Meat”: Irfan Pathan Recalls Heated Exchange With Shahid Afridi Back In 2006

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Cric News India

August 16, 2025 0 374

Irfan Pathan Recalls Heated Exchange

Irfan Pathan recalled a heated exchange with Shahid Afridi on a 2006 flight during India’s tour of Pakistan.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan recalled a fiery exchange with Shahid Afridi during the 2006 Pakistan tour, revealing how a light moment on a flight turned into a war of words.

Speaking to Lallantop, Pathan said the incident happened when both India and Pakistan players were travelling together from Karachi to Lahore. “During the 2006 tour, we were travelling by flight from Karachi to Lahore. Both teams were travelling together. Afridi came and placed his hand on my head, messing up my hair. He asked me, ‘How are you kid?’ I said, ‘Tu kab se mera baap ban gaya? (Since when have you become my father?)’,” Pathan recalled.

Pathan claimed Afridi did not stop there. “The childish behaviour was actually his. He was not my friend. After that, Afridi said some abusive words to me. His seat was right next to mine,” he added.

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Seated alongside Abdul Razzaq, Pathan said he casually asked him about the kinds of meat available in Pakistan. “Abdul Razzaq was sitting with me then. I asked him what kind of meat is available here. He told me about the different kinds of meat. Then I asked if dog meat was available. Afridi was sitting right there. Razzaq was shocked to hear this and said, ‘Hey Irfan, why are you saying this?’,” he said.

Pathan then delivered a sharp remark aimed at Afridi. “I said, ‘He (Afridi) has eaten dog meat, he has been barking for a long time’. After that, Afridi couldn’t say anything. Whatever he might have said, I would have just said, ‘Look, he is barking again.’ After this, he remained silent throughout the flight,” Pathan recalled.

The former India pacer concluded by saying the incident silenced Afridi for good. “From this incident, he understood that he could not win against me verbally. That’s why he never said anything to me again,” Pathan added.