Afghanistan has eliminated Australia from the T20 World Cup, but not before a controversial mid-game act by star Gulbadin Naib sparked claims of cheating.
Australia’s slim hopes of reaching the semi final over Afghanistan hinged on the latter losing its showdown against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Afghanistan ultimately won one of the greatest, see-sawing games in recent memory by eight runs, bowling Bangladesh out for 105 after 17.5 overs.
The team’s passage through to the next stage, however, was under serious threat after 11.4 rain-affected overs in the second innings, when the controversy erupted.
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Afghanistan narrowly led Bangladesh by two runs under the DLS system at the time when rain started to fall again.
Seeing the rain fall again in Kingstown, and seemingly aware of the slender lead, Afghanistan coach and former England international Johnathan Trott gestured for his players to slow down in hope that umpires would stop play before another ball could be bowled.
Immediately after the Trott gesture, Gulbadin, standing stationary at first slip, inexplicably grabbed his hamstring and hit the floor, claiming to be badly injured.
Afghanistan got their wish with the rain intensifying, and the delay from Gulbadin ensuring another ball wouldn’t come.
If no play could continue, it would’ve confirmed Afghanistan’s progress over Australia then and there.
Simon Doull in commentary immediately questioned Gulbadin over the curious act.
“Oh no no no, sorry. You can’t have this,” he said, “I’m not accepting that.
“Even Rashid (Khan) doesn’t like it.”
He added: “It’s just delay tactics. I get it but I don’t like that at all. It is unacceptable.
“They might have gone off anyway for the rain but that’s not a good look.
“I know the Euros are going on in football, you’d be better off there.”
Stopping the controversy from intensifying was the fact that the rain passed quickly, allowing for play to resume.
It meant that the match wasn’t decided by Gulbadin’s action — but only with thanks to the weather gods, with ‘spirit of cricket’ questions now sure to be asked of the nation.
“Spirit of cricket is alive and kicking…” wrote Michael Vaughan on X.