There are some spats that end on a friendly note. And there are some spats that remain etched in everyone's memory forever. The one between Shahid Afridi and Gautam Gambhir during a bilateral series between India and Pakistan back in 2007 during an ODI in Kanpur just cannot be forgotten.
Their on-pitch collision led to a volley of expletives being exchanged between the both of them.
So before India's much-touted clash against Pakistan in the upcoming Champions Trophy in England, veteran Pakistani all-rounder said that he would never be found in a coffee shop with Gautam Gambhir.
In an ICC Column, he was quoted as saying, "Contrary to popular belief, India and Pakistan players get along very well. Of course, there are exceptions like Gautam Gambhir, who dare I say isn't the friendliest. We are unlikely to be found together at a coffee shop anytime soon. We had a heated exchange on the field some years ago and it made headlines all over the world. While I have moved on in life as I feel these things are part and parcel of the game, Gautam for some reason can't get over it. Good luck to him!"
Afridi further spoke of his friendly relations with the Indian team. Sharing an anecdote, he said, "I recall during one of India's tours to Pakistan, I invited the entire India team to my Karachi house. We prepared special Pathan-style rich food, full of lamb and mutton dishes. ?When the food was served, there was a complete silence in the room and my Indian friends were looking at each other. At that point, I realised that my honourable and respectable guests don't eat that type of food. Quite a few of them were vegetarians, and so, we had to urgently replace the food with Daal (lentils) and vegetables dishes. It was quite embarrassing for me to not know about the dietary requirements of the guests since our similarity of culture made me take many things for granted. That was a funny memory of my 'hospitality' for the Indian team."
Shahid Afridi has finally retired from international cricket this February.
Although India's Champions Trophy tour is still shrouded in mystery, one can never have enough of the build-up to the coveted tournament. Especially when India's campaign kicks-off with an encounter with arch-rivals Pakistan.