Afghanistan team and its pacer Naveen Ul Haq received massive support from the Delhi crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in their ICC World Cup 2023 match against England. Afghanistan caused a massive upset by defeating the defending champions.
Put into bat first, Afghanistan posted 284 runs with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 80 and Ikram Alikhil making 58 runs. For England, Adil Rashid took three wickets.
Many expected England to chase down the total easily. But the Delhi pitch offered turn and was on the slow side and Afghanistan spinners made full use of the same.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took three wickets, while Mohammad Nabi took two scalps as England could only muster 215 runs with Harry Brook making 66. Afghanistan won by 69 runs, only their second win in World Cup history and first over a full-member nation.
When India played Afghanistan in Delhi, the crowd had taunted Naveen Ul Haq with Virat Kohli chants. But Virat Kohli buried the hatchet by hugging Naveen and asking the crowd to stop jeering the Afghan bowler.
After that, when Naveen clean-bowled England captain Jos Buttler, he received a huge cheer from the Delhi crowd, who also chanted his name. Naveen’s IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants shared a video of the Delhi crowd chanting his name on X.
“Delhi is cheering for Naveen. Yes, read that again!”- LSG posted.
In another video going viral on social media, a few fans could be heard calling Naveen's name from the stands. The Afghan pacer turns back with a smile and gestures a thumbs up towards the spectators.
Afghanistan will next face Pakistan on October 23 in Chennai.
