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Fact Check
Video shows former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi with ICC chairman Jay Shah and BJP leader Anurag Thakur seated together in the stadium watching the Asia Cup 2025 India vs Pakistan match.
The video is from February 2025, shot during the India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy match held in Dubai.
Social media users are claiming that former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi was spotted watching the Asia Cup 2025 India vs Pakistan match with ICC chairman Jay Shah and BJP leader Anurag Thakur. A viral post on X read: “Anurag Thakur, Jay Shah, and Shahid Afridi are in the stadium watching the India Pakistan match like high school friends. But some twitter patriots wants to boycott the game vs Pakistan #INDvPAK #AsiaCup.”
The 12-second video is also being shared widely on Facebook and Twitter with different captions. Examples of the posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
The 17th edition of the Asia Cup cricket tournament is currently underway in the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 28 September 2025. On 14 September 2025, India beat Pakistan in their Group A fixture of the T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match ended in controversy after Indian players refused the customary post-match handshakes. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said it was done to honour victims of the Pahalgam attack and Indian forces, while Pakistan coach Mike Hesson called the snub “disappointing.”
The old Champions Trophy video resurfaced in this context and was misrepresented as being from the Asia Cup 2025.
The claim that former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi with ICC chairman Jay Shah and BJP leader Anurag Thakur were seen watching the Asia Cup 2025 India vs Pakistan match together is false. The viral video is from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February, months before the Asia Cup.
FAQs
Q1. Is the viral video from the Asia Cup 2025?
No. It is from the India–Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy match on 23 February 2025 in Dubai.
Q2. Where was the video first posted?
It appeared on TikTok and YouTube in late February 2025, after the Champions Trophy game.
Q3. Who appeared in the video?
Former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi, ICC chairman Jay Shah, and BJP leader Anurag Thakur.
Q4. Why is the video going viral now?
It resurfaced after the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash on 14 September, and is being wrongly linked to the ongoing tournament.
Our Sources
YouTube video published on Cricket on February 26, 2025.
TikTok video published on Crickpassiontv on February 24, 2025.
YouTube video published on DNAIndianews on February 24, 2025.
Instagram post published on thecurrentpk on February 26, 2025.
Asia Cup 2025 schedule published on Cricbuzz.com.
Article on the India–Pakistan Asia Cup match published on Al Jazeera on September 15, 2025.
False
