Ban Asif Ali trends on Twitter after yesterday’s Pak vs Afg rivalry saw some heated moments on the field between the batter and Mohammad Nabi’s bowler Fareed Ahmed. After the 28-year old plucked Pakistan’s finisher wicket, he celebrated being too close to Asif, which is considered disrespectful by the fans and showing no sportsmanship.
The video circulates on the internet from multiple opposition sources as Asif started the battle, but Fareed’s celebration style, once tried by Kagiso Rabada against England, led him to a one-match ban. However, with the detailed footage shared by Pakistanis, it is crystal clear that the bowler triggered Asif after celebrating too close to him extra furiously and walking steps behind him after that either.
As Asif showed a reaction to his misbehaving by raising his bat, the rest of the Afghanistani players joined the verbal spat, too, including their water boy spitting words on the Pakistani batter. Fans from Afghanistan and India tweet raising their voices to ban Asif Ali from Asia Cup 2022 or cricket or at least fine him some per cent of the match fee.
This is stupidity at extreme level by Asif Ali and should be ban from the rest of the tournament, any bowler has the right to celebrate but being physical is not acceptable at all. @icc @ACCMedia1 pic.twitter.com/3ledpmM3mt
— Gulbadin Naib (@GbNaib) September 7, 2022
With all due respect our player was just celebrating winning the wicket, but this is not the first time Asif Ali has misbehaved on the ground with Afghan players. His behavior provoked the crowd, I strongly condemn both acts #BanAsifAli @ICC @ICCMediaComms @cricketworldcup https://t.co/9QhWpqgHSz pic.twitter.com/ecFlOEkflf
— Wazhma Ayoubi ?? (@WazhmaAyoubi) September 7, 2022
#BanAsifAli @ICC It’s not the first time this Pakistani cricketer misbehaved on the ground, last time in a match he pointed his bat as Gun & today he was trying to hit Afghan Player with his bat, extremely disgraceful & unethical. SHAME. pic.twitter.com/tDhvFTjWo7
— Khalid Amiri (@KhalidAmiri01) September 7, 2022
However, here is the proof of Fareed’s too close celebrations, clearing who started the action first:
New angle of the Asif Ali and Afghan bowler fight? https://t.co/s6qQcGc1Vt
— Haroon (@hazharoon) September 7, 2022
Pakistan Cricket Fans come in support of Asif, raising questions about why their national hero should be banned just for showing a reaction to disgusting action.
https://twitter.com/Naziausman60ic1/status/1567758782486151168?s=20&t=AAJrNQ-j6GGtddykxvE8Dg
Why ban Asif Ali?
No one can see the Afghan player fareed who started this shameful act?
#BanAsifAli#PakvsAfg pic.twitter.com/ugU2tSJNSx— Muhammad Asim (@Muhammad67671) September 8, 2022
It was a reaction to an action,why #BanAsifAli #BanFareedAhmed pic.twitter.com/6Uxr7FNeWJ
— simeon-sanai (@Naiknelofar788) September 8, 2022
Not only the players but their fans were equally disrespectful towards Pakistani fans as they started hitting them with chairs after losing the game. The Afghanistan fans threw chairs everywhere in the stadium causing property damage at Sharjah Cricket Stadium as multiple authorities now request strict action against them.
Later, fierce Naseem Shah revenged for his mate, hitting two consecutive match-winning sixes in the final over, excluding Afghanistan from Asia Cup 2022 and booking Pakistan’s place in the final.
