Irfan Pathan vs Shahid Afridi – What Really Happened on the 2006 Pakistan Tour?
Whenever the name Irfan Pathan comes up, Indian cricket fans instantly remember his iconic hat-trick in the very first over of the Karachi Test against Pakistan in 2006. That sensational spell remains one of the highlights of his international career. But that tour wasn’t memorable just for his on-field heroics — it also featured a fiery off-field face-off with Pakistan superstar Shahid Afridi.
Flight Drama: Karachi to Lahore
During the 2006 tour, both the Indian and Pakistani teams were travelling together on a domestic flight from Karachi to Lahore. Everything was normal until Shahid Afridi walked up to Irfan and playfully (but unexpectedly) ruffled his hair, placing a hand on his head and asking, “How are you, kid?”
Irfan, taken aback, wondered why Afridi was behaving so familiar, almost elder-like, despite them being professional rivals, not friends. Afridi then went on to pass a few sharp comments – reportedly even saying some unpleasant things in the heat of the moment.
Irfan handled the situation calmly and didn’t escalate the matter, but the incident stuck with him as a reminder of how intense India-Pakistan cricket rivalry can get — not only on the field but even off it.
Why this became a talking point again
Recently, in a candid interview with Lallantop, Irfan Pathan recalled this lesser-known mid-air confrontation, giving fans a glimpse into the mind-games and sledging that often happen behind the scenes during high-voltage India-Pakistan tours.
Takeaway
The 2006 tour wasn’t just about Irfan’s historic Test hat-trick; it was also about handling pressure, provocation, and ego clashes like a true professional. His calm reaction to Afridi’s antics showed the other side of international cricket — where mental strength is just as important as skill.
Irfan Pathan’s Epic Comeback to Shut Down Afridi
A little later during the same flight, Irfan chose a clever — and cheeky — way to respond. He walked up to fellow Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who was sitting nearby, and innocently asked what kinds of meat are commonly eaten in Pakistan. Razzaq politely explained that different types of meat were available.
That’s when Irfan dropped his hilarious punchline.
He casually asked Razzaq:
“Is dog meat also available here?”
A surprised Razzaq asked why he wanted to know. Irfan pointed towards Afridi and said:
“Because he must have eaten dog meat — he’s been barking non-stop since we boarded!”
According to Irfan, this left Afridi speechless for the rest of the flight. Irfan says he was ready with another jab if Afridi had reacted:
“If he said anything, I would’ve replied – Look, he’s barking again!”
Afridi stayed quiet all the way to Lahore after that. From then on, Irfan claims Afridi never tried to engage in a verbal clash with him again — knowing he’d met his match in wordplay too!
Head-to-Head Numbers Say It All
While their verbal exchanges were entertaining, their on-field battles were intense as well.
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Matches faced off: 23
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Afridi dismissed by Irfan: 9 times
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Afridi’s strike-rate vs Irfan: 149.35
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Boundaries vs Irfan: 28 fours, 9 sixes
Both players may be retired now, but stories like this keep the legendary India–Pakistan rivalry alive in cricket folklore.
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