Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed recently stirred controversy with a shocking comment about former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan. During an appearance on a Pakistani YouTube channel, Abrar was asked which player he would like to face in a boxing ring, someone who angers him. Without hesitation, he named Dhawan, saying, “Main chahta hu ki main boxing karu aur khada Shikhar Dhawan ho saamne” (I want to box and want Shikhar Dhawan in front of me).
The remark quickly went viral on social media, drawing strong reactions from fans in both countries. While some treated it as lighthearted banter, many criticised Abrar for being unnecessarily aggressive, considering the sensitive cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan.
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The comment comes just weeks after India defeated Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final in Dubai, clinching their ninth title with a five-wicket win. Abrar’s own performance in the tournament saw him pick up six wickets in seven matches on spin-friendly pitches, but he struggled to make a significant impact against India.
Shri Abrar Ji, a typical underfed Bhikharistani cricketing ‘hero’ wants to have ‘Shekhar’ Dhawan as a punching bag.
Don’t miss the happily cheering girl!
These Bhikharistanis’ razor-sharp focus on negative emotions is the reason why they are where they are!#JustSaying pic.twitter.com/140lvJmyRL— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) October 5, 2025
2 punch me knock kar dega gabbar
— Shreyanshi 🦋 (@thenick_7) September 24, 2025
His controversial antics weren’t limited to the comment. Abrar’s over-the-top celebrations after dismissing Indian batter Sanju Samson had already made headlines, with many interpreting them as targeted toward the Indian dugout. In response, Indian players Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Harshit Rana mimicked his celebrations after India’s triumph, with Arshdeep captioning his social media post, “No context.”
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While Abrar Ahmed continues to make headlines for his performances and off-field comments, the boxing remark has added fuel to the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, igniting debates about sportsmanship and professionalism in international cricket.
Fans across both nations are now closely watching Abrar’s next appearances, anticipating whether he will address the controversy or let his performances on the field speak for themselves.
