Afghan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has taken a lighthearted approach to the controversy surrounding his apparent hamstring injury during their thrilling victory against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. The incident occurred just before a rain break, with Bangladesh needing just 2 runs to win according to the DLS method.
Cameras captured Gulbadin Naib, fielding in the slips, grabbing his hamstring and collapsing to the ground. This sparked accusations of gamesmanship, with Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin jokingly calling for a “red card” (signifying a player ejection in football) on social media.
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Gulbadin Naib took things in stride, retweeting Ashwin’s comment and adding a playful Bollywood movie reference in his reply. While the exact reference remains unknown, it highlights Naib’s attempt to lighten the mood.
Kabi khushi kabi gham main huta hai 🤣🤣
Hamstring 🤣 https://t.co/48jV4ESpuS— Gulbadin Naib (@GbNaib) June 25, 2024
The incident itself raised eyebrows. Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott signalled for the players to slow down just before the rain started. Soon after, Naib went down clutching his hamstring. Even Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan seemed confused, questioning Naib about the injury.
Commentator Simon Doull expressed frustration on air, calling the incident “unacceptable.” However, Rashid Khan defended his teammate, claiming Naib had cramps and it didn’t affect the game. He pointed out that the rain would have stopped play regardless and the injury didn’t cause a loss of overs.
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Adding to the confusion, Gulbadin Naib appeared to be moving freely just a few overs later and actively participated in the post-match celebrations. He even joined in the team’s dance to DJ Bravo’s “Champion” song.
While the extent of Naib’s injury remains unclear, his response injects some humor into the situation. The incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between sportsmanship and tactics in cricket.
