Iftikhar Ahmed expresses regret for his rough exchange with Asad Shafique.Iftikhar Ahmed, an all-rounder for Pakistan, has apologized in public for the aggressive exchange of words he had with senior batsman Asad Shafique during a Sindh Premier League (SPL) game.
Iftikhar apologized for his actions in a message that was shared on the social networking site X, admitting that he shouldn’t have responded that way in the heat of the moment.
“I sincerely regret what I did in the field today. In the heat of the moment, I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did,” Iftikhar wrote.
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The cricket player went on to say that he had personally apologized to Asad Shafique and stressed his long-standing admiration for him, mentioning their shared cricketing past.
“I have always had the utmost respect for [Asad Shafique] Bhai, and I have apologized to him personally after the bout. Together, we have played a great deal of cricket,” he continued.
In the eighth over of the 161-run chase, Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Asad Shafique, setting off the incident. Social media users shared a video of Iftikhar celebrating wildly in Asad’s direction, which in turn prompted the batter to approach him on the field.
Fans criticized Iftikhar for acting aggressively against the senior player, calling it dishonorable and disrespectful. Iftikhar won Player of the Match for his outstanding all-around effort, and Karachi Ghazis won the match despite the controversy.
The incident highlights the necessity for players to retain composure and respect for their opponents and serves as a reminder of the value of professionalism and sportsmanship on the field.
