June 25th 2024.
In a thrilling T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, there was a comical yet controversial incident that took place on the field. As Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott signaled for his players to slow things down, fielder Gulbadin Naib dramatically fell to the ground, clutching his thigh in pain. This caused a mix of both amusement and annoyance among former players, who questioned the authenticity of Naib's discomfort.
The incident occurred during the 12th over, when spinner Noor Ahmad was bowling and Bangladesh was falling behind on the Duckworth-Lewis par score in a rain-affected Super 8 clash. With frequent rain interruptions, the match was an intense one, and at that moment, Bangladesh was just two runs behind the revised target of 114 in 19 overs. In the midst of all this, Trott was seen on camera instructing his players to slow down the pace of the game.
Commentators Simon Doull and Pommie Mbangwa were quick to react, with Doull expressing his disapproval of Naib's actions and Mbangwa jokingly questioning if he was aiming for an Oscar or an Emmy. Naib was given treatment and eventually taken off the field by teammate Naveen-ul-Haq and a support staff, as it started raining again and the players ran to the dugout.
However, the drama did not end there. India's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took to social media to joke about the incident, saying Naib deserved a red card. This sparked a funny response from Naib himself, who quoted a popular Bollywood song and said, "Kabi khushi kabi gham main huta hai" (sometimes there is joy, sometimes there is sorrow).
When play resumed after a short delay, the target for Bangladesh was revised, and Naib was soon back on the field, with Najibullah Zadran briefly substituting for him. In the 15th over, Naib even managed to dismiss Tanzim Hasan, showcasing his all-round abilities. However, the incident had already caused quite a stir on social media, with players and fans sharing their reactions.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan praised the "spirit of cricket" and joked about Naib becoming the first player to get a wicket 25 minutes after suffering an injury. Another former cricketer-turned-commentator, Ian Smith, even expressed his desire to see Naib's doctor, as he had been struggling with a knee injury for the past six months.
In the end, Afghanistan emerged victorious by eight runs and secured their spot in the World Cup semifinals. But the incident with Naib will surely be remembered as one of the most bizarre and amusing moments in the tournament.
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