India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025: Shaheen Afridi Accused of Deliberately Bowling Wides to Deny Virat Kohli Century

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India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli once again proved his dominance in run chases, steering India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, February 23.

His unbeaten 100 off 111 balls sealed India’s spot in the semi-finals while adding another chapter to his stellar record against arch-rivals Pakistan. However, controversy erupted in the final moments of the chase, with Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi accused of deliberately bowling wides to delay or deny Kohli his century.

As India closed in on the target of 242, Kohli was on 87, with 17 runs needed for victory. His partner Axar Patel was aware of the situation and attempted to rotate the strike in Kohli’s favour. However, what followed in Shaheen Afridi's 42nd over left the Dubai crowd frustrated, leading to accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Afridi bowled three wides in four deliveries, with some balls straying well outside the leg stump. One particular instance saw the ball fly down the leg-side, with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan managing to get a hand on it. Axar, believing it was heading for the boundary, hesitated before scrambling for a single.

Kohli’s visible frustration at these extras was evident when Afridi followed up with a slower bouncer, which was once again called wide. The situation soon boiled down to five runs needed, with Kohli on 94, further fueling suspicions that Afridi was intentionally conceding wides to deny him a ton.

Dubai Crowd and Social Media React to Shaheen Afridi’s Antics

As Afridi’s third wide was called, chants of "loser" echoed around the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with many Indian fans accusing Afridi of gamesmanship. The controversy quickly spread on social media, with fans on X (formerly Twitter) expressing their displeasure.

One user wrote, “Shaheen Shah Afridi showing worst ever sportsmanship bowling wides willingly to stop Virat from scoring a match-winning hundred."

Another posted, "What a loser Shaheen Afridi is. Bowled a wide to deny Kohli a century. But couldn’t deny the master a ton."

Despite the drama, Kohli remained composed, scoring the winning runs and completing his 51st ODI century, adding yet another memorable knock against Pakistan.

Historical Precedents: Similar Incidents in Cricket

The accusations against Afridi are not the first time a bowler has been suspected of deliberately denying a batter a century. One of the most infamous examples occurred in 2010, when Sri Lanka’s Suraj Randiv deliberately overstepped while Virender Sehwag was on 99. Sehwag hit the ball for six, but since the no-ball ended the match, the runs were not counted towards his personal milestone.

Another instance came in 1999, when India’s Sachin Tendulkar was on 98 against Pakistan in Delhi, and Waqar Younis bowled a wide down the leg side to finish the match.

While Afridi’s intentions remain unclear, the timing of the wides, combined with Kohli’s milestone approaching, led to widespread criticism.

Despite the controversy, Kohli’s chase was yet another example of his ability to thrive under pressure. His innings anchored India’s pursuit, even as Hardik Pandya’s quickfire boundaries initially threatened to take the chase away from him.

India’s win confirmed their passage to the semi-finals, while Pakistan’s hopes of progression hang by a thread, needing favourable results from other matches. Afridi, who finished with 1/52 in 9.3 overs, will likely face more scrutiny in the coming days, as debate continues over whether his wides were intentional or simply a lapse in execution.