BJP leader and former Minister Anurag Thakur trolled for sitting with Shahid Afridi during the high-stakes India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. The viral images, which also include former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, have triggered strong reactions from netizens, leading to widespread criticism and trolling.
While the cricket match itself was a heated affair, the images of Anurag Thakur alongside Afridi have sparked a political storm, as many users questioned his decision to sit beside a former Pakistani cricketer known for his controversial remarks on Kashmir.
Anurag Thakur Trolled for Sitting with Shahid Afridi: Social Media Reactions
Social media erupted as Anurag Thakur was trolled for sitting with Shahid Afridi, with users calling out the double standards in political narratives.
✔ One user commented: “If this was Rahul Gandhi or any Congress leader sitting with a Muslim, BJP leaders would have started a storm of criticism.”
✔ Another user wrote: “Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalo ko” (a controversial slogan often used by right-wing supporters).
✔ Another sarcastic post read: “If this were a Congress leader instead of Anurag Thakur, BJP supporters would have declared him anti-national by now.”
Many questioned why BJP supporters remained silent on Anurag Thakur’s presence with Afridi, given that Afridi has previously repeatedly claimed Kashmir belongs to Pakistan.
Anurag Thakur Trolled for Sitting with Shahid Afridi: The Afridi-Kasim Khan Angle
The viral pictures also showed Shahid Afridi posing with Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan, which further fueled the online controversy.
✔ One user reacted: “Kasim Khan shouldn’t have accepted the request of this below-average person (Afridi) for a photo. Celebrities need to be selective!”
✔ Another claimed Afridi took the photo for publicity: “I bet you, the looser on the left (Afridi) wanted a picture with the boy on the right (Kasim) for attention.”
✔ A disappointed Pakistani fan stated: “Kasim, your father is in jail, and you shouldn’t have taken that picture with Afridi.”
This reaction stems from Shahid Afridi’s past criticisms of Imran Khan, despite both being prominent figures in Pakistan’s cricket and political circles.
Who Is Kasim Khan? The Son of Imran Khan & Jemima Goldsmith
- Kasim Khan is the second son of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Jemima Goldsmith.
- Born on April 10, 1999, in England, he has primarily lived in the UK.
- Imran Khan and Jemima divorced in 2004, after nine years of marriage.
- Kasim’s elder brother, Sulaiman Isa, was born in 1996.
- After the divorce, Jemima returned to England with both sons.
Imran Khan has previously described his divorce as one of the most difficult periods of his life, making Kasim’s viral photo with Afridi even more surprising for some Pakistani fans.
Anurag Thakur Trolled for Sitting with Shahid Afridi: Why the Backlash?
The outrage against Anurag Thakur sitting beside Shahid Afridi stems from multiple factors:
- Afridi’s Past Statements on Kashmir – Shahid Afridi has publicly called Kashmir a part of Pakistan, which has angered many Indian cricket fans in the past.
- BJP’s Narrative on Pakistan – BJP leaders, including Anurag Thakur, have previously taken strong stances against Pakistan and any ties with the country.
- Perceived Hypocrisy – Critics argue that if a Congress leader had done the same, BJP supporters would have labeled them “anti-national”.
While politicians and celebrities often attend high-profile cricket matches, the optics of a BJP leader sitting with a controversial Pakistani cricketer has led to massive trolling.
Anurag Thakur Trolled for Sitting with Shahid Afridi: What’s Next?
With the India vs Pakistan match behind us, the controversy around Anurag Thakur sitting with Shahid Afridi continues to dominate political and social media discussions.
- Will Anurag Thakur respond to the criticism?
- Will BJP clarify its stance on the viral images?
- Will this impact India-Pakistan diplomatic and cricketing relations?
While the cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan remains as intense as ever, this controversy highlights how politics and sports continue to intertwine, leading to heated online debates.
Anurag Thakur Trolled for Sitting with Shahid Afridi in Viral Photo Controversy
- Anurag Thakur trolled for sitting with Shahid Afridi during IND vs PAK match in Dubai.
- Netizens accuse BJP of hypocrisy, stating a Congress leader would have been called “anti-national.”
- Viral photos also show Shahid Afridi posing with Imran Khan’s son, Kasim Khan.
- Afridi has previously criticized Imran Khan, making the picture even more surprising.
- The controversy continues to stir debate on social media, with strong reactions from both India and Pakistan.
As Anurag Thakur faces online backlash, this incident once again proves that in India-Pakistan cricket, every off-field moment can turn into a political storm.
