'McDonald's and KFC generation': Shahid Afridi reacts to friendly relations between Pak-India cricketers

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has labelled the current generation of cricketers as the "McDonald's and KFC generation."

Speaking to broadcaster Star Sports ahead of the Champions Trophy, Afridi expressed surprise over the friendly behaviour between Pakistani and Indian players on the field.

When asked by the anchor about his aggressive on-field attitude compared to the current players, Afridi responded, "The present generation of players is a McDonald's and KFC generation."

During the discussion, the anchor brought up the topic of fitness, prompting former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to humorously remark, "You talking about fitness doesn't sound right at all." This led to laughter in the studio.

Earlier, Afridi had also raised concerns over the inclusion of certain players in Pakistan's Champions Trophy squad but refrained from naming them.

Speaking to the media after an event in Lahore, Afridi commented, "All teams from around the world are coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy; India should also participate. Now that they are not coming, what more can I say?"

He further remarked, "India is not coming to Pakistan, and that's now in the past. The team should focus on defeating India wherever they play against them and make the nation proud."

"Winning brings joy to people across all four provinces, and the entire nation celebrates under one flag," he added.

He also made an interesting comment about Pakistan's squad selection, hinting at certain players' inclusion. "There are some players in the 15-member squad, and I know where they have come from. But we will talk about that later, as the Champions Trophy is just around the corner," he said.

Advising the national team, Afridi stressed the need for top-level performance in all departments. "All teams have come well-prepared. Pakistan needs to deliver its best in batting, bowling, and fielding," he concluded.

India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 amid political tensions. Instead, the BCCI agreed to a hybrid model, where India's matches will be played at a neutral venue while the rest of the tournament takes place in Pakistan.