Shoaib Akhtar, ex-Afgha cricket chief get into heated exchange over unruly fans
In the ongoing Asia Cup, Pakistan and Afghanistan played out a thriller on Wednesday at Sharjah in the Super 4 stage. Naseem Shah smashed back-to-back sixes of the first two balls of the last over as Pakistan sealed a one-wicket victory to assure themselves a place in the final alongside Sri Lanka.
However, following the match, the Sharjah Cricket Stadium was a witness to unsavoury scenes as Afghanistan fans, clearly disappointed with the loss, were seen breaking chairs and assaulting Pakistan fans.
In a video posted by former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, Afghan fans can be seen breaking chairs and then throwing them towards the Pakistan supporters.
"This is what Afghan fans are doing. This is what they've done in the past multiple times. This is a game and it's supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport," Akhtar wrote in a Twitter post.
This is what Afghan fans are doing.
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 7, 2022
This is what they've done in the past multiple times.This is a game and its supposed to be played and taken in the right spirit.@ShafiqStanikzai your crowd & your players both need to learn a few things if you guys want to grow in the sport. pic.twitter.com/rg57D0c7t8
Shafiq Stanikzai, who happens to be the former Afghanistan Cricket Board chief, gave a response to Akhtar, saying nobody can control the emotions of fans and he should not be bringing an entire nation when speaking about such incident.
"You can't control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzimam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena," wrote Stanikzai.
You can’t control the emotions of the crowd and such incidents happened in the world of cricket multiple, you should go ask Kabir Khan, Inzimam Bhai and @iRashidLatif68 how we treated them. Am giving you an advice next time baat ko nation pe Mat lena https://t.co/JQTgzWBNqL
— Shafiq Stanikzai (@ShafiqStanikzai) September 7, 2022
Talking about the match between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the former batted first and posted a score of 129/6 in 20 overs. Chasing 130, Pakistan were looking good at one stage with the score being 87/3 in the 16th over. However, Pakistan collapsed from there on, and they went to 118/9.
In the last over, Pakistan needed 11 for a win, and it was Naseem Shah who turned out to be the hero for the men in green.
Following the win that sealed their berth in the Asia Cup final, Pakistan players also celebrated in an ecstatic manner and there were some wild scenes that unfolded in the stadium.
First published: 8 September 2022, 15:25 IST
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