Former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi and ex-India opener Gautam Gambhir have a long-standing and notorious rivalry on and off the cricket pitch. Their heated exchange on Twitter has often made headlines, but the feud actually began during a tense ODI match between India and Pakistan in 2007.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the two former cricketers were spotted shaking hands and displaying a friendly demeanor at the Legends League Cricket (LLC) Masters tournament in Doha, Qatar recently.
The LLC tournament brought together Afridi and Gambhir, who play for different teams. During one of the games, Gambhir was hit in the helmet by a delivery from Abdul Razzaq. Asia Lions captain Afridi reviewed Gambhir’s well-being and showed a compassionate side the fans had never seen before. The handshake between the two players during the throw also drew attention on social media.
Despite their newfound warmth towards each other, Afridi has opened up about their rivalry.
“We are both ambassadors from our respective countries. If you live in the past, you will not be able to live. We enjoy our presence. He leads his team and is in good form, plays beautifully and is fun to watch batting. I spent two to three days with him and it was amazing.” said the retired Pakistani all-rounder during his recent interview with the TV presenter and sports host Yashika Gupta.
Afridi also said that he would like to see such Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Wasim Akram And Waqar Younis in the next issues of the LLC.
“Be it Sachin Tendulkar or MS Dhoni, from Pakistan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. These are big names and people want to see them.” added the Peshawar-born cricketer.
Gambhirs India Maharajas and Afridis Asia Lions will face off in the LLC Masters 2023 Eliminator on Saturday, March 18. The game winner will face off against Aaron Finch’s World Giants, who have already reached the finals with three wins from four games.
