Pakistan registered a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the Super-4 clash of the ongoing Asia Cup at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (September 7).
During the match, Pakistan batter Asif Ali and Afghanistan pacer Fareed Ahmed were involved in a heated altercation.
While Asif and Fareed were separated before things could have gone out of control, the tension already gripped the stands and it turned nasty after Naseem Shah smashed two consecutive sixes in the final over to seal the deal for Pakistan.
In multiple videos going viral, a section of Afghanistan fans was seen uprooting the stadium chairs and hurling them toward their Pakistani counterparts.
After the game, former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar termed the Asif Ali-Fareed Ahmed incident as one of the reasons for Afghanistan’s loss.
“We as a nation always love and support Afghanistan during their tough times, what was that behaviour after dismissing Asif Ali, who pushed him around and even abuse him?” Akhtar said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“You play cricket, show your passion but such arrogance should not be shown isilye allah ne aapko Saza di, isilye ne aalah ne ek pathan ko duusre pathan se chakka marwake zaleel kiya, aur rote hui gayi Afghanistan team (and this is the reason why the almighty punished you, and this is the reason why the almighty made a Pathan (Naseem Shah) hit a six against you, and you were humiliated and Afghanistan team went out crying),” he added.
Shoaib Akhtar also praised the Afghanistan cricket team for playing out of their skins to take the game close to the final over.
“Afghanistan are playing good cricket, you are a good team, but you should make it personal. We don’t do this to even India, India wale Pappiya jhapiya kar rahe hai hamare saath, aap hai ki hamare bhai hai, sah mulk hain, hum apse laad bhi karte hai, khyal bhi rakhte hai, and aap kya batameezi bhi karte ho. (We do not make it personal with even the Indian team. We are so well-behaved with them and here you are, we consider you our brothers, you are our neighbouring nation, we love and take care of and here you are showing your brazenness) this is not acceptable yaar."
Shoaib Akhtar Also hailed Shah for holding his nerves in the pressure situation.
“Hats off to you Naseem Shah, you are a great asset for this country,” he said. “I told you months ago that in Pindi that you will be a superstar and thankfully you are a superstar. It was good to see your innings and I was happy, you will become a brand of Pakistan, just keep yourself fit.”
