Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sparked controversy ahead of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 match, declaring Pakistan “slightly weaker” compared to their arch-rivals in a recent interview. The explosive all-rounder cited India’s “deep middle and lower-order strength” as a decisive factor, while praising Virat Kohli’s leadership and Hardik Pandya’s versatility .
Afridi’s comments come amid preparations for the marquee clash scheduled for February 25 in Lahore. While acknowledging Pakistan’s bowling prowess led by Shaheen Afridi (his son-in-law), he emphasized that India’s “multiple match-winners” give them an edge in high-pressure tournaments . This isn’t the first time Afridi has made headlines for candid assessments – his viral 2020 COVID-19 relief efforts across Balochistan earned him both praise and criticism .
From Boom Boom to Philanthropy
Now 47, Afridi remains active through his Shahid Afridi Foundation, which has established 12 schools and 4 hospitals in underserved regions since 2014. During the pandemic, the organization distributed 50,000 ration kits across Pakistan before Afridi himself contracted COVID-19 in June 2020 .
| Career Highlights | Achievements |
|---|---|
| ODI Debut | 1996 vs Kenya at 16 |
| T20 World Cups | 2007 Player of Tournament 2009 Final MOTM |
| Records | Fastest ODI century (37 balls in 1996) 17 wickets in 2011 World Cup |
The cricketer-turned-philanthropist recently made waves in family circles too – his daughter Ansha married star pacer Shaheen Afridi in 2023, creating Pakistan’s ultimate cricket power couple . Despite retiring in 2018, Afridi’s social media channels continue buzzing with 4.6M YouTube subscribers analyzing modern cricket strategies .
