Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed and former Test batter Asad Shafiq were involved in a heated altercation during a Sindh Premier League (SPL) match at National Bank Arena in Karachi on Wednesday (January 31).

Playing for Karachi Ghazis, Iftikhar dismissed Larkana Challengers' Asad during the chase. After dismissal, Iftikhar directed his celebration towards Asad which the latter didn't like and walked towards the spinner to confront him.

Iftikhar continued to show his aggression towards the Larkana Challengers skipper as the umpires and his teammates separated both the players.

Iftikhar Ahmed's ugly on-field behaviour received backlash from the Pakistan cricket fans, leading him to issue an apology.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Iftikhar apologized to Asad Shafiq while admitting that he got carried away in the heat of the moment.

"I am extremely apologetic for my behaviour in the field today. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did in the heat of the moment. I’ve apologized to @asadshafiq1986 Bhai in person after the match & have always held great regards for him. We have played a lot of cricket together," Iftikhar wrote.

This was not the first time Iftikhar Ahmed grabbed the headlines for his unruly behaviour on the field. During the second T20I against New Zealand in Hamilton last month, Iftikhar used abusive language to a fan who called him 'Chachu' when he was fielding near the boundary.