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Shahid Afridi sparks social media outrage over photo of 'pet lion'

Does Shahid Afridi own a lion now?

11 Jun, 2018

Shahid Afridi is all over social media but for the wrong reasons.

The cricketer took to Twitter to post what he thought would be a sweet post about family time and being kind to animals. He shared pictures of himself lovingly feeding a baby deer and of his daughter doing his victory pose... in front of a chained lion.

Great to spend time with loved ones. Best feeling in the world to have my daughter copy my wicket taking celebrations. And yes don't forget to take care of animals, they too deserve our love and care :) pic.twitter.com/CKPhZd0BGD
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) June 9, 2018

Many were outraged by not only Afridi's alleged violation of animal rights but also his lack of safety precautions:

Shahid bhai???? There's a literal lion behind your daughter????
— F (@furreekatt_) June 9, 2018

Where is this? Come how there are wild animals in unnatural environment? Isnit legal?
— afia salam (@afiasalam) June 9, 2018

The lion shouldn’t be amongst people and it should not be tied up like that
— Sabeen Syed🌏 (@SabeenGeopol) June 10, 2018

Shahid Afridi disgusts me. Chaining a wild animal because “don’t forget to take care of animals” ffs what world you live in you are torturing him.
— Sundus (@sundiiiii) June 10, 2018

I’m absolutely appalled with what #ShahidAfridi is doing. You can’t keep a #lion out of its natural habitat all chained up & then claim that u r loving animals. The lion looks weak & so done with life. I feel so bad for it. #PETA #AnimalRights #cricket #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/IiphTknlhX
— Mia Utopian (@mia__utopian) June 9, 2018

Some came to Afridi's rescue as well:

Suddenly everyone has turned into an animal rights activist after watching Shahid Afridi's picture with a Lion. Maaf kardo yar twitter ko ab, harwaqt agenday tumharay!
— Jibran T. Siddiqui (@jibransiddiqui) June 10, 2018

While some asked the question everyone was thinking:

What kind of milk was he feeding to the baby deer that it grew up to be a lion. 😱😱
— Wasif Saleem (@RealSaleemShady) June 9, 2018

Comments

Zoraiz Zafar Jun 11, 2018 12:54pm

Don't people have anything else to do?

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helping hands Jun 11, 2018 12:59pm

Whatever, these photos are just an eyesore!

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Sagar Jun 11, 2018 12:59pm

Afridi was a nutcase on the ground. But it is confirmed today that he doesn't have brains to leave his daughter near lion. Hope he understands the difference between a wild Lion and a pet dog.

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kabeelakhan Jun 11, 2018 01:01pm

This is none's business to criticize him , he is free to do whatever he likes to do like all of you do whatever you like ; you hypocrites!

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Sameer Jun 11, 2018 01:18pm

Shahid has a golden chance to be a hero, release him to the wild or to the proper authorities preferably abroad. Lion is young. If tamed; it can never survive in the wild.

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M. Saeed Jun 11, 2018 01:19pm

Whatever may be the extent of pet training, lion can never be sincere to its master. Be careful Afridi, everything is not game of cricket.

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naji Jun 11, 2018 01:41pm

It is his passion. Some people like to keep themselves in media in either way.

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Jayant pareek Jun 11, 2018 01:58pm

He tried to show himself as animal lover but posting picture with a lion pulled him in controversy because he is a celebrity so he should avoid these type of showoff

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Yusuf Jun 11, 2018 02:03pm

Can we identify whose house this was?

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Qaiser Jun 11, 2018 02:50pm

Even years of exposure has not brought maturity to one and only Shahid lala...way to go

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Asif Bhatti Pakistan Jun 11, 2018 02:57pm

Afridi can never learn or change but on the other hand - dont people have better things to do.

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amer abbas Jun 11, 2018 03:13pm

Shahid Afridi,living well beyond the means of a normal cricketer.I wonder how he accumalated such wealth?

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HonorBright Jun 11, 2018 04:32pm

Be kind to your daughter before you shower your kindness upon sequestrated animals..

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pk Jun 11, 2018 04:51pm

He is always in the news for bad reasons. He is vevy confused character.

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K Maliks Jun 11, 2018 05:01pm

this is simple cruelty.......chaining a wild beast? as pet around kids? what is he thinking?........an accident likely to happen.

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hameed Jun 11, 2018 05:10pm

Never showed sense on the cricketing field, I wonder why People expect him to be different at home

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Ahsan Gul Jun 11, 2018 06:00pm

Yes, big cats like lions are not pets. Just like we human cannot live in their world and cages. Bad taste and bad display.

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Irfan Ul huq Jun 11, 2018 06:06pm

How did he acquire a lion. Did he illegally smuggle it.

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Zulfiqar Jun 11, 2018 06:26pm

@kabeelakhan he should be arrested for criminal negligence for endangering his own daughter’s life. There are laws about wild animals for a reason. It is illegal to keep wild animals eapecially in your own house. If he really cares about these wild beasts he should buy them and release them in the wild.

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rahul Jun 11, 2018 09:15pm

@kabeelakhan So say becasue u are not bothered by his actions. If everyone will do what he feels than there is no need of law and order

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Lost name Jun 11, 2018 10:15pm

Status symbol. But why Afraid needs it? The animal should be shifted to zoo by the authorities immediately.

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Saim Cheeda Jun 11, 2018 11:09pm

People get angry at everything nowadays. How about minding their own business for a change?

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El Cid Jun 12, 2018 12:37am

What we have here is cruelty to animals. The loin is in very poor health.

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kash Jun 12, 2018 01:52am

badshah salamat ka apna zoo

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Neo Jun 12, 2018 02:40am

Afridi is also a lion. He bites too.

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Ambreen Jun 12, 2018 03:53am

All of a sudden everyone has become animal right activitist. Ridiculous

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AW Jun 12, 2018 07:24am

I never thought that Shahid Afridi could be such a cruel as well as a shallow person. He needs to chain a wild animal to feel powerful and feed his personal insecurities. WOW

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rana1 Jun 12, 2018 08:12am

It seems in pakistan,people lack awareness to rights of animals to live free..No wonder the world sees you in a negative light.Totally corrupt from mind to heart.WWF must intervene and the world cricket board must address this ape man to release the lion to proper care in a western country or else ban him from playing cricket or benefit from any cricket endeavours..

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Jawaid Islam Jun 12, 2018 09:15am

Ajeeb bnda hai, beti ko unsafe kr k betha hai.

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abdulrahman Jun 12, 2018 10:05am

Well, he must have lost his mind by saying we should love the animals and doing opposite to it. You can love a wild animal by keeping it in it's actual place. In your home they feel alienated. Shahid can do better than this by keeping the animals in a pakastani zoo and bearing their expenses - in this way the animals will have at least freedom to roam as per their wish in a big cage. Let them go before everyone talks against you. It is good for you. your well wisher. and by the way - keeping wild animal in home is illegal, as they are rare species.

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Zulfiqar Jun 12, 2018 12:04pm

@amer abbas by endorsing everything under the sun!

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Zulfiqar Jun 12, 2018 12:07pm

Afridi should be reprimanded if these pictures are true. This is criminal negligence by a parent. How can one leave his own daughter in front of a lion who already looks depressed. Has he not heard the phrase ‘bhuka shayr’

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Shafiq Jun 12, 2018 01:03pm

Grow up and learn about the needs of animals. No wild animal thrives in captivity. You must have seen animals in captivity in the well managed zoos in the west. Being rich and being civilised are two different things. Being rich you have the opportunity to become civilised if you open your mind and learn.

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Pakistani Jun 12, 2018 05:22pm

The lion should be taken to the Zoo where atleast it will be looked after better. It looks malnourished.

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Saad Jun 12, 2018 06:56pm

This hypocrite nation...if they get a same chance they will do the same...no but now they want to be twitter legend.

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Anonymouseee Jun 12, 2018 08:49pm

Jealous people will always be jealous. We will always support you Lala. Love from Karachi.

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M Wasim K Jun 13, 2018 02:26pm

Shahid Afridi, you are a national hero, If you have money, please try spending it on people who need it, not on animals who are supposed to be in jungle. Keeping them for your shouk and showing does not align with your reputation

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Asis Jun 13, 2018 03:14pm

Another stupid thing from afridi.

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Zulfiqar Jun 14, 2018 06:26pm

@Shafiq well said !

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