India cricket player Ravichandran Ashwin has given his perspective on a controversial little incident of Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib who had allegedly ‘faked’ an injury to lead his team to waste time during the T20 World Cup Super Eight match against Bangladesh.
The DLS par score was 2 runs ahead for Bangladesh and light drizzle just began. Jonathan Trott, the coach for Afghanistan motioned to slow down the game, that made Naib to fall clutching his hamstring.
Ravichandran Ashwin admitted that there were some opinions that suggest he should be admonished. But stressed that this action by Naib was out of a genuine wish to help his team qualify for the semi finals. The Indian spinner even jokingly wrote on social media, “Red card for Gulbadin Naib.”
Naib responded Ashwin with cryptic reply after Afghanistan clinched their place in semi final, “Kabi khushi kabi gham main huta hai hamstring.”
Ravichandran Ashwin gave more insight about it on his YouTube channel talking about Naib’s conduct too. “Gulbadin Naib fell like that. Everyone said that is a penalizable offense. But what the hell man? The guy is playing for his country, trying to win a World Cup, qualify,” Ashwin said.
According to him, who has been following proceedings at this year’s T20 World Cup tournament; Afghanistan displayed passion as well as unity in all their games. He cited examples from Rashid Khan’s leadership where the national side had shown true brotherhood and love towards each other.
“It is not just momentum thing in Afghanistan. It’s a very hopeful nation. They’re playing for themselves. This playing for one another we can say so many things about it or tell so many people about it. Does India play for one another? For the badge? Obviously yes! But at stages of their cricketing journey like this one they are playing for one another like you have not seen anything like this,” added Ashwin.
Afghanistan’s commitment paid off when they defeated Bangladesh by eight runs. With DLS method in their final Super Eight match taking them to the semi-finals having four points.
