Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed is making headlines again, not for his on-field performance, but for some surprising remarks off it. The 27-year-old leg-spinner recently appeared on a Pakistani YouTube channel where he was questioned about which cricketer he’d love to square off against in a boxing ring.
When asked, “Which player in the world would you like to box against, someone you feel a lot of anger towards?”, Ahmed’s response was direct: “I want to box, and I want Shikhar Dhawan in front of me.”
This surprising remark, aimed at the seasoned former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, rapidly circulated across social media. Fan reactions were split, with some considering it a playful jab, while others saw it as an unwarranted provocation.
Ahmed’s comments gained particular traction given the recent intense encounters between India and Pakistan, especially after India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. The Dubai clash was notable for its heated exchanges and enthusiastic celebrations.
The Asia Cup final was a resounding success for India, who secured their ninth title with a five-wicket victory. India successfully chased down a target of 147, recovering from an early struggle at 20/3 thanks to Tilak Varma’s magnificent unbeaten 69 and Shivam Dube’s crucial 33, reaching home with just two balls to spare. Pakistan’s batting lineup had previously crumbled from a strong position of 113/1 to a mere 146 all out, largely due to Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive spell of 4/30.
During the same tournament, Abrar, who finished with figures of 1/29 from his four overs, also caught eyes with his distinctive wicket celebration, which he directed towards the Indian dugout after taking Sanju Samson’s wicket. After India’s triumph, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Harshit Rana playfully mimicked Ahmed’s celebration, with Arshdeep sharing a video of it, simply captioned “No context.”
Although Abrar’s cricketing talent remains undeniable, his recent comments have undeniably fueled the already passionate and often intense rivalry between India and Pakistan on and off the field.