Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi shared a light moment during a pre-match media session when he momentarily forgot Bangladesh's popular cricket nickname 'Tigers' before the crucial Super Four match in the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025.

 

When a reporter asked Afridi about Pakistan's playing XI against the Tigers, the pacer replied with a laugh, "Tigers who? Sorry, I don’t know."

 

Afridi's remark immediately spread on social media, prompting a mix of humor and slight nervousness among fans regarding the high-stakes contest.

 

The joke quickly became a talking point, with many users cautioning against giving Bangladesh extra motivation. 

 

One user commented, "Kaheen wo mazak ko seriously he na le len 😢 (Hope they don't take that joke seriously)". Another fan humorously played up the rivalry, writing, "Phir match se pehle panga leliya. (They picked a fight again before the match)."

 

Others acknowledged the need for a strong performance, posting, "Aj pata chale ga tiger kon hay 🏏. (Today we will find out who the tiger is)". Some tried to smooth things over, commenting, "Bangladesh Bhaio serious maat Lena it was just a joke. (Bangladeshi brothers, don't take it seriously, it was just a joke).

 

A few users pointed out the confusion that sometimes arises from multiple teams having similar animal-themed nicknames: "Many times we heard Lankan tigers i think many of us were too worried which tiger journalist was talking about."

 

Shaheen Afridi quickly turned serious when discussing the upcoming match, emphasizing that Pakistan was fully focused on securing a win.

 

"Bangladesh are a good team and have been playing good cricket recently," Afridi told reporters. "In such games, you must land the first punch and not give them opportunities. We will have to play well in all three departments—batting, bowling and fielding—to win."

 

He also addressed the recent increased aggression shown by Pakistan's fast bowlers, particularly during the Super Fours encounter against India.

 

"It’s nothing new. We’ve always been aggressive since the day we started playing cricket. That’s how fast bowling is done," he remarked. "When a fast bowler shows aggression, it lifts the energy of the whole team. There is no special plan for this—our job is to show aggression and take wickets."

 

Afridi stressed the team's professional outlook: "Everyone has their own opinion, but our job is to play cricket. We won the tri-nation series; now we are here to win the Asia Cup. As a team, we are working hard to give Pakistan joy."

 

The 25-year-old also reiterated his commitment to the team's all-round performance. "My role is to give 100 percent in whatever position I’m asked to play—batting, bowling, or fielding," he said. "Everyone has to contribute in whatever role they are given so that Pakistan benefits."

 

Pakistan is scheduled to face Bangladesh today in a must-win clash. If Pakistan wins this match, they will advance to the Asia Cup final, where they will meet India for the third time in the tournament. The Asia Cup final is set for September 28.