Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib has made light of his controversial injury delay as his side prepare for a historic appearance in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.
Gulbadin was at the centre of a strange moment during his side’s Super 8 game against Bangladesh, dropping dramatically to the ground and clutching his leg despite standing still at slip.
Moments earlier, with Afghanistan narrowly ahead on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method and with rain beginning to fall, head coach Jonathan Trott could be seen gesturing animatedly from the dugout encouraging his team to slow the game down.
![Rashid Khan, left, embraces team-mate Gulbadin Naib (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)](http://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/06/25/6d10f59ad3134512826759333de05bb8.jpg?w=640)
Afghanistan eventually won the game without recourse to DLS, edging out Australia, with a mysteriously fit-again Gulbadin bowling two overs and taking an enthusiastic part in his team’s celebrations as they made the final four at a global event for the first time.
Former New Zealand international Simon Doull had branded the incident “unacceptable” while commentating, while fellow punt Ian Smith joked: “I’ve a dodgy knee for the last six months. I am going to see Gulbadin Naib’s doctor straight after the game.”
The reactions continued to flow in, with former England captain Michael Vaughan posting on X “Great to see Gulbadin become the first cricketer in the history of the game to get a wicket 25 mins after being shot”. Australia spinner Adam Zampa posted a video of Gulbadin’s tumble on Instagram with the caption ‘the old rainstring’.
Great to see Gulbadin become the first cricketer in the history of the game to get a wicket 25 mins after being shot …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 25, 2024
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan suggested in post-match interviews that his team-mate had suffered an attack of cramp, but there was a mischievous tone to their subsequent social media posts.
Gulbadin posted a picture of himself smiling broadly with physio Prasanth Panchada on Instagram, writing, “Wonders can happen”. He also commented on a video posted by pace bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, which saw footage of Gulbadin running crudely cut into a movie clip, writing: “Hey mate I am not felling well (sic)…Hamstring problem.”
It is expected that Gulbadin will be passed fit for Afghanistan’s semi-final against South Africa on Wednesday night in Trinidad.
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