A former Pakistan teammate of Shahid Afridi backed Irfan Pathan’s remarks regarding Afridi’s behaviour.
Danish Kaneria Backs Irfan Pathan’s Criticism of Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has supported Irfan Pathan’s recent remarks about Shahid Afridi, agreeing with the former Indian pacer’s assessment of Shahid Afridi’s behaviour. During a podcast appearance, Pathan recalled his battles with Afridi, claiming he had dismissed the Pakistan all-rounder 11 times in international cricket and calling him a “badtameez aadmi” (ill-mannered man). Kaneria, who has previously spoken out about Afridi’s alleged discriminatory behaviour towards him, echoed these sentiments.
Pathan recounted a heated altercation with Afridi on a plane during India’s 2006 tour of Pakistan, claiming Afridi initiated the incident by messing with his hair. “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,” Pathan said. He also described his humorous but sharp retort: “He has eaten dog meat, he has been barking for a long time… Look, he is barking again.”
The exchange has reignited discussions about Afridi’s controversial behaviour during his playing days and highlighted the longstanding tensions between him and fellow cricketers from opposing teams.
Irfan @IrfanPathan bhai, you’re absolutely right. He always resorts to personal attacks—be it on someone’s family or their religion. Class and decency clearly aren’t his strengths.pic.twitter.com/nWOEA3vz49
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) August 17, 2025
History between Kaneria and Afridi
The rift between Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi runs deep. Kaneria previously claimed that he faced religious discrimination while playing for Pakistan, alleging that some teammates were hesitant to share meals with him due to his faith. He further accused Afridi, a senior member of the dressing room, of encouraging others to ostracise him.
Afridi, however, denied all allegations, labeling Kaneria a “liar” and suggesting he was seeking sympathy following his ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for involvement in a county cricket spot-fixing scandal.
The longstanding feud highlights the complex dynamics within Pakistan’s cricket setup during that era, reflecting both personal and professional tensions that have lingered over the years.
