'We will see kya hai, kya nahi': Shaheen Afridi reacts to Suryakumar Yadav's 'India-Pakistan no rivalry' comment

Shaheen Afridi hits back at Suryakumar Yadav's 'no-rivalry' comment. (Photo: X)

Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi retaliated to Suryakumar Yadav on Wednesday after the Indian skipper denied that their match versus Pakistan is still a competition. Yadav made his remark in response to a question posed to him last Sunday on whether Pakistan had improved their performance in the Super Four encounter in Dubai in comparison to their first game there on September 14.

"I would like to say one thing on this question. I feel that you should stop asking this question on the rivalry," Suryakumar Yadav made the remark in the post-match press conference after India’s six-wicket win over Pakistan while chasing 172 in Dubai on Sunday.

The moderator later clarified that the question wasn’t about rivalry. The victory marked India’s seventh consecutive triumph over Pakistan in men’s internationals, with their last defeat coming at the same venue during the 2022 Asia Cup.

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"Standards and rivalry are the same," he continued. "According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches and if [head-to-head] it is 7-7 or 8-7, then that is called a rivalry. But 13-0, 10-1….I don't know what the stats are. But this is not a rivalry anymore. But yeah, I feel we played better cricket than them."

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Shaheen avoided questions about Suryakumar's claim when speaking to the media on Wednesday before Pakistan's crucial Super Four match against Bangladesh on Thursday at the Dubai International Stadium.

"That's his view, let him say. When we meet (in the likely Asia Cup final on Sunday), we will see kya hai, kya nahi. Tab dekh lenge. We are here to win the Asia Cup and we will give our best effort for that," Afridi was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times in the pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan's encounter against Bangladesh.

The Asia Cup 2025 could set up a third India-Pakistan clash — this time in the final. For that to happen, both teams must first get past Bangladesh. India will have the chance to virtually seal their spot in the title clash when they take on Bangladesh in their second Super Four fixture in Dubai on Wednesday. On Sunday, they had already beaten Pakistan.

On the other hand, if the Salman Agha-led team defeats Bangladesh on Thursday, they could secure their third meeting with India. In Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, they defeated Sri Lanka.

In the event that India and Pakistan defeat Bangladesh, the Asia Cup will feature the final between the two bitter rivals. Suryakumar's team will try to defend the title, while Pakistan will seek for their third.