Pakistan and Afghanistan brought one of the best 20-20 games of all time when they met in Super Four of the Asia Cup on Wednesday. The nail-biter kept swinging from one side to the other all throughout the game but Naseem Shah’s two back-to-back sixes in the last over clinched Pakistan that matches and a seat at the final.
The game of such importance was destined to get some heated moments and it indeed happened. The game was in a clutch situation when Asif Ali came on to bat in the second innings.
With two sixes, the lower order batter looked confident of taking the Pakistan side across the finish line but an incredible bouncer proved to be the end of Ali as he played it right into the fielder’s hands.
Here’s a video of the incident:
What is this? Really shameful. @ICC should take some strict action against this guy. Asif Ali.
pic.twitter.com/87Gjmv5dHj— Vishal. (@SportyVishal) September 7, 2022
Afghan bowler, Fareed Ahmad was understandably very excited with the wicket and in a moment of high adrenaline went straight to Asif Ali to celebrate. This certainly infuriated the Pakistan batter and he raised his bat as the two players came to blows.
The other Afghan players seeing tempers flare ran and removed the two from each other’s faces. Both Asif Ali and Fareed Ahmad could face some fine or match ban for this ungentlemanly act.
Here’s an alternate angle that shows Fareed Ahmad provoking Asif Ali:
The actual video of shameful attitude by this unknown bowler of Afghanistan shoving gestures in the face of Asif Ali. Ungrateful gits! pic.twitter.com/OrFpiEipY3
— Wajahat Kazmi (@KazmiWajahat) September 7, 2022
As for the game, it landed in Pakistan’s favour after Naseem Shah hit back-to-back sixes to clinch the match in the final over. Afghanistan could only manage to score 129/6 in 20 overs. Although this was a small total, the Afghanistan bowlers and fielders gave their all and made the most out of it. Pakistan saw a collapse of batting as they went from 87/3 at one point to 118/9 and were on the brink of a historic loss.
With this win, however, the Men in Green have booked a berth in the final. They will now face Sri Lanka, both of whom have won two matches in the Super Four stage.
