Shahid Afridi in his Autobiography ‘Game Changer’ Calls World Cup Hero Gautam Gambhir ‘Poor’
May 4, 2019 at 12:28 PM
Former Pakistan skipper and celebrated all-rounder, Shahid Afridi in his no hold barred, debut memoir has launched a scathing attack on one of the finest Team India openers Gautam Gambhir. Afridi, who has a fair share of controversies as well, made some startling revelations in his recently-released autobiography ‘Game Changer’, penned by award-winning journalist, Wajahat S. Khan.
While making startling revelations, Afridi has further somewhat tried to clarify his age.
Afridi has launched a vicious attack on Gambhir by calling him poor. He added Gambhir has an ‘attitude problem’.
During the India-Pakistan clashes, the rivalry was often at its peak when things often heated up in the middle between the players. However, there was also the bright side of the same what appeared to be a camaraderie between the arch-rivals’ players.
Afridi on run-in incident:
However, the 2007 run-in episode unfolded during Indo-Pak bilateral series in Kanpur when Gambhir scampered for a run, but in the middle of the pitch, he had a collision with Afridi, who stood to his ground before both hurled expletives at each other.
“I remember the run-in with Gambhir during the 2007 Asia Cup, when he completed his single while running straight into me. The umpires had to finish it off or I would have. Clearly, we had a frank bilateral discussion about each other’s female relatives,” Afridi wrote in his book, Game Changer.
Furthermore, Afridi maintained Gambhir has no traits. He reiterated that Gambhir does not hold any major record under his belt. It’s pertinent to point out that the duo had lashed out at each other over Kashmir issue.
Back then, the duo was fined for breaching the world cricket governing body ICC‘s Code of Conduct.
“Some rivalries were personal, some professional. First the curious case of Gambhir. Oh, poor Gautam. He & his attitude problem. He who has no personality. Gambhir, who is barely a character in the great scheme of cricket. He who has no great records just a lot of attitude,” Afridi revealed in his book.
Afridi gets personal on Gambhir:
Afridi further added that players are supposed to be in the positive frame of mind. But he reiterated that Gambhir has missed on that part. Adding, it doesn’t matter whether one is competitive or aggressive; one is supposed to be optimistic in approach.
“Gambhir behaves like he’s a cross between Don Bradman & James Bond. In Karachi, we call guys like him saryal (burnt up). It’s simple, I like happy, positive people. Doesn’t matter if they are aggressive or competitive, but you have to be positive & Gambhir wasn’t,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, Gambhir is yet to respond to Afridi’s comments. Gambhir, who has announced his retirement in December 2018, has played a major role in two different World Cup wins in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
In 2007 Twenty20 World Cup, Gambhir scored 75 against Pakistan and 97 against Sri Lanka at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Now, Gambhir has started his fresh innings with the party in power; Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). He is contesting election from the East Delhi constituency.