Viral video: Fan confronts Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed over Shubman Gill send-off controversy

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 2, 2025, 19:50 IST

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Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed faced a fan's confrontation regarding his send-off to India's Shubman Gill during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The incident has gone viral on social media. During a second ODI against New Zealand, a female fan questioned Abrar's behavior. Pakistan's recent performance in ODIs has been disappointing, with a defeat against New Zealand.

Viral video: Fan confronts Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed over Shubman Gill send-off controversy

Abrar Ahmed gestures after dismissing Shubman Gill in the India vs Pakistan match in the Champions Trophy. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed has found himself in the spotlight once again -- this time not for his bowling but for a light-hearted confrontation with a fan following a controversial send-off to India’s Shubman Gill during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
In a viral video circulating on social media, a passionate fan confronted Abrar during Pakistan’s series against New Zealand, questioning his antics against Gill.
Watch:

The incident occurred when Pakistan was facing New Zealand in the second ODI at Seddon Park.
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A female fan confronted Abrar Ahmed -- who was not in the playing XI -- on the sidelines of the match, questioning his controversial send-off to Shubman Gill. "What were you signaling to Shubman Gill?" she demanded.
Though the words weren’t clearly audible in the clip, Abrar’s awkward reaction and nervous smile indicated he was caught off guard.
This confrontation stemmed from an intense moment in the India vs Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy group stage.
During that match, Abrar produced a stunning leg-break to castle a well-set Shubman Gill for 46. However, it was his animated send-off, gesturing Gill to walk off that sparked controversy among Indian fans.
Virat Kohli, at the non-striker’s end, was visibly surprised by the dismissal and the send-off.
While Abrar celebrated, social media erupted, with memes and jokes mocking the Pakistani spinner for his over-the-top reaction.
Many fans felt his behavior was unnecessary, especially since India comfortably chased down Pakistan’s 241-run total, thanks to Kohli’s brilliant unbeaten century (100 not out off 111 balls).

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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s form in ODIs hasn’t been promising. Against New Zealand, they suffered an 84-run defeat, handing the Kiwis an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Pakistan’s top order collapsed, with Babar Azam (1), Abdullah Shafique (1), and Imam-ul-Haq (3) falling inside six overs.
A valiant half-century from Naseem Shah and a fighting knock from Faheem Ashraf weren’t enough to save them from yet another defeat.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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