Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has defended Asif Ali for threatening to hit Afghanistan's Fareed Ahmad with the bat. Talking about the incident, it happened during the Super Four encounter of the ongoing Asia Cup between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It started after Ahmad celebrated aggressively in front of Ali after taking the latter's wicket. In reply, the Pakistani player threatened to hit him with the bat. Also, he pushed his Afghanistan counterpart.
The Green Brigade managed to win the game by one wicket. Naseem Shah, known for his pace bowling, shone with the bat. He hit two sixes to win the game against their Asian rivals and qualify for the final. After the game, Shoaib Akhtar, who runs his own YouTube channel, slammed the Afghan team by saying that their arrogance cost them the game.
The Almighty has punished you: Shoaib Akhtar
The former pacer added that because Afghanistan was displaying arrogance, the almighty has punished them. The 47-year-old also said that Naseem Shah, who hit two sixes in the game, humiliated them with the mighty hits over the rope.
“You play cricket, show your passion but such arrogance should not be shown isilye allah ne aapko Saza di, isilye ne aalah ne ek pathan ko duusre pathan se chakka marwake zaleel kiya, aur rote hui gayi Afghanistan team (and this is the reason why the almighty punished you, and this is the reason why the almighty made a Pathan (Naseem Shah) hit a six against you, and you were humiliated and Afghanistan team went out crying),” said Akhtar.
These comments haven't gone down well with Twitter users. They are now trolling the 163-ODI veteran for supporting Asif Ali. Fans believe that Akhtar is defending Asif meaninglessly and the latter must be punished for his acts.
This is how Twitter reacted
@shoaib100mph can you please teach Asif Ali sports ethics before talk so disgusting about Afghan players. pic.twitter.com/rxitFPzL2y
— A (@asif312490821) September 7, 2022
Okay, so you guys never sledged and abused others during your playing days? Hurling abuses and heated glances have been common during #INDvsPAK games too. Remember Afridi vs Gambhir? Sohail vs Prasad? But raising the bat invites severe penalty. wht abt spirit of the game? https://t.co/3GS2OE6yMF
— Avinash Sharma (@avinashrcsharma) September 8, 2022
Ban #AsifAli is this the way he represents his country that too against weak opposition.....go and educate your players a little manners before they play at such a platform... Pathetic act😡 https://t.co/TDYhbzFwQA
— Kumail Raza (@KumailR150) September 7, 2022
Asif Ali after getting out almost hit Fareed Ahmad with his bat on his way back to pavallion.
Is this really a gentlemen's game anymore?
ICC should take action on this#PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/wHvH6okExC
— Cricket Huskies (@CricketHuskies) September 7, 2022
Biased & one sided representation of the incident. We all know what happened there. Come on guys, you're @ESPNcricinfo . https://t.co/7ACxqI7ite
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 7, 2022
Who is talking about aukat? pic.twitter.com/jvmehbkOXw
— Abdullah Mateen🇦🇫 (@IAMABDULLAH___) September 7, 2022
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
Shoaib Akhtar Talks about sportsmanship, like Mia Khalifa talks about virginity. 😂#BanAsifAli #AFGvsPAK #iPhone14Pro #BoycottIPL #AfghanAtalan #Afghanistan #Pakistani pic.twitter.com/F404596GVs
— Musa Wayand (@musa_wayand) September 8, 2022
This is what #pak players are doing.
This is what they've done in the past multiple times.This is a game & its supposed to be played & taken in the right spirit.@shoaib100mph your gov & your players both need to learn a lot of things.#senctionpakistan pic.twitter.com/pL09SWStRO— Azeem Azeemi (@Azeemazeemi1) September 7, 2022
He should be arrested and banned from cricket matches forever.
Violence and physical harassment is deep in the root of all Pakistani players.#banAsifAli pic.twitter.com/1IBXHgn5cp— shamso_khan (@KabulJa85290265) September 7, 2022