Respect versus competition: Twitter is divided on Shaheen Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s on-pitch falling out

Twitter erupts in controversy, as it does, when Shaheen Afridi and Sarfaraz Ahmed exchanged; seemingly heated words during a PSL game. The incident took place during a game between the Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars; when left-arm pacer Afridi rocked much-revered former captain Ahmed.

Ahmed turned around to have a few words with Afridi, who had a few things on his mind as well.

Exchange Of Words Between Sarfaraz Ahmed & Shaheen Shah Afridi#HBLPSL6 #PSL6 #qgvslq pic.twitter.com/PW1rV8E8UO

— Cricket Posting (@Cricket_Posting) June 15, 2021

After the delivery hit Ahmed’s head, he turned around to exchange a few words with Afridi at the non-striker’s end. Afridi, who had begun his walk back for the next delivery, turned around and responded with his hand swinging up to point at Ahmed. Several saw this as Afridi misbehaving with his senior.

But the popular response to that argument was that this was not a matter of respect — cricket is a sport and in a sport, one plays to beat their opponent, or in Afridi’s case, to not concede runs. If it were easy to do so, or if it were less dramatic to try an snatch a win for your team, sports wouldn’t be as entertaining as it is.

In match it is normal for players to get riled up or get fiery during a competition. Therefore, Ahmed’s response was normal — he just burst out at a delivery he couldn’t play — and Afridi’s turning around was warranted as well — bouncers are an integral part of a fast bowler’s handbook after all.