'Raat gayi, baat gayi...': Rashid Latif reflects on his exchange with Sehwag during the 2017 Champions Trophy
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New Delhi, Dec 20 (NationPress) There is no denying that the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is the most celebrated and eagerly awaited sports rivalry worldwide. A significant incident occurred during the 2017 Champions Trophy when former Indian opener Virender Sehwag and ex-Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif engaged in a contentious exchange that captivated audiences.
Following India's decisive victory over Pakistan by 124 runs in their opening group match at Edgbaston, Sehwag took to X, previously known as Twitter, to commend the Virat Kohli-led team on their substantial win, stating, "Pote ke baad Bete. Koi baat nahi Beta, Well tried! Congratulations Bharat !#BaapBaapHotaHai #INDvPAK".
This comment did not sit well with Rashid, who responded to Sehwag's post through a Facebook video. He expressed, "Sehwag has taken a jab at us, and if he had directed his comment at me or someone specific, I might not have reacted. You all need to revisit history. We gifted India all the grand monuments created by our ancestors, whether it’s Ajmer Sharif, Nizamuddin Sharif, or the Taj Mahal. I have more family in India than you do."
When questioned about his viral social media spat with Sehwag, Rashid remarked that such incidents often occur in the heat of the moment and should not be tied to the present.
"If I speak about a player from a year ago, it cannot be related to today. I made a remark about Virender Sehwag concerning the 2017 Champions Trophy. There are always comments that directly impact the country, hence a reaction was inevitable," the former Pakistani cricketer told IANS.
"When Pakistan triumphed, I told him that this is not the type of cricket that should be played, yet there was no response from him. That was a positive sign. He communicates well. Occasionally, incidents occur in the heat of the moment, but that was back in 2017; Raat gayi, baat gayi (what's done is done)," he concluded.
Nevertheless, India faced defeat against Pakistan in the final by 180 runs at The Oval, missing the chance to secure their second ICC Champions Trophy title.
