The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has escalated, with tensions spilling beyond the field and into television studios and social media. Following a controversial handshake incident, emotions have remained high, particularly on the Pakistani side. What began as a sporting event has transformed into a source of political contention, and former cricketers have become increasingly outspoken. While Shoaib Akhtar delivered his characteristic commentary, and Rashid Latif and Shahid Afridi made personal remarks, Mohammad Yousuf’s behavior stood out. During a panel discussion on SAMAA TV, Yousuf made a highly offensive comment about India captain Suryakumar Yadav. His remarks, delivered on live television, quickly drew criticism, with both the public and fellow commentators condemning his actions as unbecoming of a former international player. Yousuf went further, suggesting that the Indian team benefited from biased umpiring decisions. While India did have two LBW decisions go their way, Pakistan also overturned some incorrect on-field calls through DRS. Despite some gains, Pakistan struggled to post a competitive score, finishing at 127/9 in 20 overs. Shaheen Afridi’s late-order innings brought some respectability to the score. India’s response was dominant, with Abhishek Sharma’s strong start leading the team to victory in under 16 overs.
