Ravichandran Ashwin posted a cheeky comment on the Gulbadin Naib incident.© Twitter

On Tuesday, Afghanistan experienced their most important day in their cricket history so far. The team led by Rashid Khan defeated Bangladesh to knock out Australia and qualify for the first time ever in a T20 World Cup semi-final. However, there was one incident that seemed to mar the whole occasion for Afghanistan. It happened when Gulbadin Naib dramatically fell on his back, clutching his thigh after Trott signalled his players to slow things down.

But minutes later, not only was the all-rounder back on the field but he also went on to take Tanzim Hasan’s wicket, causing several former players and commentators to question the genuineness of his discomfort.

But Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan sought to play down the incident. 

“Well, he had some cramp, I don’t know what happened to him and I don’t know what’s going on in social media but that doesn’t matter – it’s just the end field injury which comes and then we haven’t lost any overs, the rain came and we just went off, it’s not something like brought a massive difference in the game,” Rashid khan.

“We came back on field after five minutes and there was no massive difference. For me, it’s just like a small injury comes in, then you have to take some time.”

This is Unacceptable

This is cheating from Afghanistan

Bangladesh scored 81 Runs before the rain and they were only 2 Runs behind par score and Gulbadin Naib do this to avoid Bangladesh victory on DLS

Once a cheater always a Cheater pic.twitter.com/oEnVPlcFCP

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) June 25, 2024

Skipper Rashid Khan believes that Afghanistan’s maiden T20 World Cup semifinal qualification, following spectacular wins over New Zealand and Australia along the way, is a momentous feat that will inspire the youth of the strife-torn nation.

Afghanistan, who became a full ICC member only in 2017, scripted history by qualifying for their maiden T20 World Cup semifinal with a win over Bangladesh here.

“I think the semi-final is going to be a massive, massive like inspiration for the youngsters back home in Afghanistan. That Afghanistan team get into the semis for the first time,” Rashid said at the post match press conference.

“And we have done it under 19 level, but this level we haven’t done that. Even Super Eight was first time for us and then in semis,” he added.

Moments after the win, visuals of jubilant fans back home celebrating Afghanistan’s historic achievement started doing the rounds on social media.

With the feat, Afghanistan have showed how much they have progressed in the white ball formats. At last year’s ODI World Cup, they upset defending champions England and former winners Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They are continuing their giant slaying run at the T20 World Cup having beaten heavyweights New Zealand and Australia.

“The cricket we have played in the whole tournament so far – I think we deserve to be in the semis. The way everyone took the responsibility of getting into the game and performing best for the team,” said Rashid.

“So, I don’t know how I can describe my feeling but it’s a massive achievement for us as a team and as a nation to be in the semis and now looking forward to the semis.” The Afghanistan cricket team is a group of individuals who have honed their skills by plying their trade in T20 leagues around the world. But when they come together to play for their country, it’s hard to find a more passionate bunch.

With PTI inputs

The Afghanistan cricket team booked their progression into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024, beating Bangladesh in their final Super 8 match of the tournament. Though it was a deserving win for Afghanistan, there were many head-scratching incidents from the game that left the world of social media baffled. The biggest incident that made headlines was Afghanistan star Gulbadin Naib‘s shock injury claim that seemed to have come on the instructions of coach Jonathan Trott. Seeing the act getting caught on camera, even ‘cheating accusations’ were made against Naib, Trott and Afghanistan.

Gulbadin Naib seemed to have ‘faked’ his injury as he fell down while fielding in slips while holding his hamstring. The incident even forced the medical team to rush in and carry him out of the ground. Not just the Bangladesh team but Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan seemed frustrated by the act. Here’s the video:

This has got to be the most funniest thing ever Gulbadin Naib just breaks down after coach tells him to slow things down pic.twitter.com/JdHm6MfwUp

— Sports Production (@SportsProd37) June 25, 2024

No words…. @ICC should

take action on this pic.twitter.com/61n3N2SuhG

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) June 25, 2024

Seeing the incident, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Michael Vaughan, etc. took to social media to crack jokes.

Batting, running, slip fielding, celebrating and now taking wickets. https://t.co/AZZyOKe3Px pic.twitter.com/ZfPhdTj86s

— Ashwin(@ashwinravi99) June 25, 2024

Red card for Gulbadin Naib

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) June 25, 2024

Great to see Gulbadin become the first cricketer in the history of the game to get a wicket 25 mins after being shot …

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 25, 2024

This is Unacceptable

This is cheating from Afghanistan

Bangladesh scored 81 Runs before the rain and they were only 2 Runs behind par score and Gulbadin Naib do this to avoid Bangladesh victory on DLS

Once a cheater always a Cheater pic.twitter.com/oEnVPlcFCP

— Imran Siddique (@imransiddique89) June 25, 2024

Afghanistan made the entire cricket world stand up and take notice a they shrugged off the ‘minnows’ tag, and confirmed their status among the elite teams in the sport.

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan admitted after the game that it was a dream coming true moment for him and the team.

“It’s something like a dream for us as a team being in the semifinal. It’s all about the way we have started the tournament. The belief came while we beat NZ. I don’t have any words to describe the feeling. The only guy who put us in the semifinal was Brian Lara and we proved it right. I told him we won’t let you down. We thought 130-135 was a good total on this wicket. We were 15-20 runs short. It was all about mindset. We knew they would come hard at us to chase that in 12 overs. That’s where we could take advantage, We just had to be clear with our plans. We put in the effort, that’s in our hands. Everyone did a wonderful job,” he said.

The Afghans next take on South Africa in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of cricket, beating Australia by 21 runs in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. This was their first win of over Australia in any format, having narrowly lost out to them in the ODI World Cup last year in India. The win also keeps Afghanistan afloat in the race to qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament. Afghanistan have pulled off some huge results over the years, but after wins over New Zealand and Australia in the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is safe to say that they are knocking on the door to become a cricketing powerhouse.

Former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja, who was the mentor of the team during the ODI World Cup last year, had claimed that Afghanistan will become a big team the moment they beat a top cricketing nation.

A video of the same has resurfaced after Afghanistan’s famous win over Australia.

“Some of the participating teams have been playing cricket for over 100 years. But, Afghanistan is a young cricketing nation with around 15-20 years of experience. So, all this is part of the journey. During the 2019 World Cup, both India and Pakistan survived an upset against Afghanistan by the barest of margins. You are saying today that they (Afghanistan) are a small team. But, the day they beat a big team, they will also become a big team,” Jadeja had said during the ODI World Cup last year in India.

Jis Din Gira Denge, Us Din Ye (Afghanistan) Badi Team ho jaegi

New Zealand 2024 T20 WC

Pakistan 2023 WC

England 2023 WC

Sri Lanka 2023 WC@ACBofficials many more to come#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7CchESeFTB

— Ajay Jadeja (@AjayJadeja171) June 15, 2024

After the match, even Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admitted Afghanistan “outplayed us” on a night when his side dropped five catches. 

“They’re a very good cricket team who play against the best all the time and they have improved a hell of a lot over the last few years,” said Marsh. 

“We know certainly in these conditions that they are a big danger team. Like I said before, they outplayed us tonight and credit to them.”

With one match to play in the Super Eights, Afghanistan and Australia have two points each while India top the group with four. 

Afghanistan will face winless Bangladesh in their final game in the Super Eights in Kingstown, St Vincent while Australia, who currently occupy second spot in the group on the basis of run rate, will likely need to beat India in St Lucia to secure a place in the semi-finals.

(With AFP Inputs)

Afghanistan players with team’s mentor Ajay Jadeja during a practice session on the eve of their ICC Men’s World Cup ODI cricket match against the Netherlands, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, on Nov. 2, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Afghanistan’s seminal performance in the ongoing World Cup that helped them toss away the ‘minnows’ tag has a lot to do with the appointment of Ajay Jadeja as their mentor, reckons head coach Jonathan Trott.

The Afghans have toppled defending champions England, former champions Pakistan and Bangladesh to garner six points in the tournament so far.

It is a position from which they can dream of a place in the World Cup semifinals and a Champions Trophy berth in 2025.

Trott lavished praise on Jadeja for keeping the team in high spirits.

“I think Ajay brings a lot of experience having played a lot of cricket in India. He’s always a good sounding board with regards to conditions, venues and also the other subcontinent teams that we’ve played against,” Trott said in the pre-match press meet here on November 2.

The former England batsman said having Jadeja on the board during a high-pressure event made his job a bit easier.

“As for myself as a coach…as a good sounding board with decision making and sort of planning going forward for each game.

“It (Jadeja’s presence) is also another good set of eyes on the players to see how they’re preparing for the matches and how their careers and talent is being utilised,” added Trott.

Afghanistan might view Lucknow, the venue of their next match against Netherlands, as their ‘home ground’ after having been based here some years back.

But Trott dismissed the theory of ‘home advantage’ because of the team’s prior experience at the venue.

Trott said the pitch has been re-laid at the Ekana stadium and that should nullify such reasons.

“I think when it comes to home ground advantage, I think they (Afghanistan) have good experience of playing here. But in World Cup matches, they’ve relaid the pitch. So, it’s a little bit different to how it has been in the past. I don’t think (previous) experience plays that bigger role,” said Trott.

However, Trott said the experience of playing against bigger teams will stand them in good stead.

“But we’ve won against big sides. the big Test playing nations. So, that’s good. I think tomorrow’s challenge is going to be playing against a very good Dutch side who are in form and that’s going to be the challenge for us, so very excited for it.”