On January 31, Pakistani cricket players Iftikhar Ahmed and Asad Shafiq found themselves at the center of attention during a heated match in the Sindh Premier League. In the eighth over, Iftikhar, playing for Karachi Ghazi, dismissed Shafiq, the captain of Larkana Challengers, which led to a heated argument between the two players. Fans criticized the spinner for her animated farewell to Shafiq after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Players and officials intervened to defuse the tension as Asad Shafiq, clearly upset by Iftikhar Ahmed’s conduct, confronted the spinner on the field.
Shafiq had earlier hit the Pakistan all-rounder for a six and a four in the same over, which may have sparked the spinner’s agitated reaction. This led to a tense situation.
This is the footage of Iftikhar and Shafiq fighting:
Iftikhar Ahmed got aggressive with Asad Shafiq
Was this a bit on the unprofessional side? Who’s wrong here? #Iftimania pic.twitter.com/QIqDGdcFSl
— Alisha Imran (@Alishaimran111) January 31, 2024
In the actual game, Karachi Ghazi held the Larkana Challengers to a meager 92 runs by defending a target of 161 runs. Iftikhar, who took three wickets and scored 69 runs at bat, was a key player. Karachi Ghazi defeated the Larkana Challengers by a score of 68 runs to secure a comprehensive victory. With this triumph, Karachi Ghazi moved up to third place in the league standings and recorded their third win in five games.
Shafiq gets an apology from Iftikhar Ahmed for his on-file behavior.
After the match, Iftikhar apologized to Asad Shafiq on the social networking platform X. Ahmed acknowledged his error and apologized for his outburst on the field. He said that following the game, he had personally apologized to Shafiq and accepted that his actions were inappropriate. Additionally, he emphasized how crucial it is to uphold respect and sportsmanship in cricket.
“I sincerely regret the way I behaved in the field today. In the heat of the moment, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I’ve always had the utmost respect for @asadshafiq1986 Bhai and have personally apologized to him following the match. We have engaged in numerous cricket matches together,” his remark stated.
Here’s the most recent post by Iftikhar Ahmed on ‘X’:
I am extremely apologetic for my behaviour in the field today. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did in the heat of the moment. I’ve apologised to @asadshafiq1986 Bhai in person after the match & have always held great regards for him. We have played a lot of cricket together.
— Iftikhar Ahmad (@IftiMania) January 31, 2024