Afghanistan’s all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, who was awarded the man of the match against Australia a few days ago, created one of the most humorous moments of the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan has made it to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2024 after a thrilling match against Bangladesh. They clinched victory by eight runs, dismissing Bangladesh for 105 in 17.5 overs. This win also meant Australia’s hopes of reaching the top four were dashed along with Bangladesh’s last wicket.
However, the game was marred by controversy surrounding Gulbadin Naib, sparking accusations of unsportsmanlike behavior. Social media has been abuzz with reactions to the incident involving the Afghanistani head coach.
Before delving into the details of Gulbadin Naib’s controversial “hamstring pull,” let’s acknowledge Afghanistan’s historic achievement. Led by Rashid Khan, the Afghan team had been chasing the dream of reaching the semifinals of an ICC tournament, a milestone they had never achieved before this T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
During the second innings, rain poured down at Arnos Vale Stadium, prompting Afghan head coach Jonathon Trott to signal to his players to slow down and stay calm amidst the weather conditions.
In a pivotal moment, Gulbadin Naib appeared to suffer a hamstring injury and lay on the outfield, prompting concerns of a delay tactic. He was attended to by Afghanistan’s medical staff and teammate Naveen-ul-Haq.
The rain intensified, and the delay caused by Gulbadin’s injury seemed to work in Afghanistan’s favor, potentially sealing their progress over Australia if play couldn’t resume. Fortunately, the interruption was brief, and when the game resumed shortly after, Afghanistan maintained their momentum, eventually securing victory by eight runs.
Here is how the fans reacted to this incident:
