Gros Islet [Saint Lucia], Following Afghanistan's passage to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup after an eight-run win over Bangladesh in a rain-soaked thriller, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the dramatic and mischievous move Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib holding his hamstring to delay the process was "one of the funniest things I had ever seen".
When rain interrupted the action, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott was caught on television cameras asking the team to slow down the action as they chased 116 runs, Bangladesh falling short of Duckworth Lewis' target. Gulbadin, grateful for his coach's message, collapsed to the ground, hilariously holding his hamstring.
Although Rashid later said Gulbadin was suffering from a cramp, he was not impressed by the 33-year-old's sudden collapse.
It remains to be seen whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) will examine Gulbadin's action and take action ahead of the semi-final clash against South Africa on Thursday.
Marsh said of the incident, quoted by cricket.com.au: "he was close to tears and at the end of the day it had nothing to do with the game." So now we can laugh about it, but wow, it was fun. "It was extraordinary."
After he fell, Gulbadin managed two vital overs, even taking a wicket and was caught running aggressively after Afghanistan's victory. Also during the celebrations, Gulbadin was captured right front and center.
If that wasn't enough nerve on Gulbadin's part, he posted a photo with team physiotherapist Prasanth Panchada on social media with the caption, "Wonders can happen."
If all that wasn't enough of an indication of some chutzpah on Gulbadin's part, the subsequent photo the 33-year-old posted on social media of him smiling alongside team physiotherapist Prasanth Panchada read "wonders can happen".
After the match, Rashid said about Gulbadin: "he had some cramps. I don't know what happened to him and I don't know what's going on on social media, but that doesn't matter."
"We haven't lost any overs, the rain came and we just left, it's not something that has made a big difference in the game... for me, it's like if a little injury comes, then you have to take some time," he added. .
According to the ICC's playing conditions, it is "unfair for any defender to waste time" and gives authority to umpires to approach players or captains if they feel the time wasting was "deliberate or repetitive".
A two-match ban is a maximum penalty for this type of time wasting, although a first and final warning is more likely if Gulbadin's act is reported.
While Marsh appreciated the comical timing of the entire scene, Marsh said it was difficult for his team to watch the game as his fate depended on the clash between Afghanistan and Bangladesh after the loss to India. Australia needed Bangladesh to win to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
"We watched it as a group. Obviously it was a pretty surprising game, right? A lot of twists and turns," he said.
"Obviously you want to keep playing this tournament and that was our only way to do it. But there's also the element that it was completely out of our control and we only had ourselves to blame for that."
"We were all flat (when the last wicket fell). We were desperate to continue in the tournament. But fair play to Afghanistan: they beat us and beat Bangladesh and they deserve to be in the semi-finals," he concluded. .
When rain interrupted the action, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott was caught on television cameras asking the team to slow down the action as they chased 116 runs, Bangladesh falling short of Duckworth Lewis' target. Gulbadin, grateful for his coach's message, collapsed to the ground, hilariously holding his hamstring.
Although Rashid later said Gulbadin was suffering from a cramp, he was not impressed by the 33-year-old's sudden collapse.
It remains to be seen whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) will examine Gulbadin's action and take action ahead of the semi-final clash against South Africa on Thursday.
Marsh said of the incident, quoted by cricket.com.au: "he was close to tears and at the end of the day it had nothing to do with the game." So now we can laugh about it, but wow, it was fun. "It was extraordinary."
After he fell, Gulbadin managed two vital overs, even taking a wicket and was caught running aggressively after Afghanistan's victory. Also during the celebrations, Gulbadin was captured right front and center.
If that wasn't enough nerve on Gulbadin's part, he posted a photo with team physiotherapist Prasanth Panchada on social media with the caption, "Wonders can happen."
If all that wasn't enough of an indication of some chutzpah on Gulbadin's part, the subsequent photo the 33-year-old posted on social media of him smiling alongside team physiotherapist Prasanth Panchada read "wonders can happen".
After the match, Rashid said about Gulbadin: "he had some cramps. I don't know what happened to him and I don't know what's going on on social media, but that doesn't matter."
"We haven't lost any overs, the rain came and we just left, it's not something that has made a big difference in the game... for me, it's like if a little injury comes, then you have to take some time," he added. .
According to the ICC's playing conditions, it is "unfair for any defender to waste time" and gives authority to umpires to approach players or captains if they feel the time wasting was "deliberate or repetitive".
A two-match ban is a maximum penalty for this type of time wasting, although a first and final warning is more likely if Gulbadin's act is reported.
While Marsh appreciated the comical timing of the entire scene, Marsh said it was difficult for his team to watch the game as his fate depended on the clash between Afghanistan and Bangladesh after the loss to India. Australia needed Bangladesh to win to have a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.
"We watched it as a group. Obviously it was a pretty surprising game, right? A lot of twists and turns," he said.
"Obviously you want to keep playing this tournament and that was our only way to do it. But there's also the element that it was completely out of our control and we only had ourselves to blame for that."
"We were all flat (when the last wicket fell). We were desperate to continue in the tournament. But fair play to Afghanistan: they beat us and beat Bangladesh and they deserve to be in the semi-finals," he concluded. .
