- Australia is eliminated from the T20 World Cup
- An Afghan cricketer has been criticized for faking an injury
- Afghanistan’s coach had told his team to delay action
Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign ended in extraordinary fashion after Big Bash League hero Rashid Khan led Afghanistan to a historic semi-final.
The match was also filled with controversy, with Afghan player Gulbadin Naib sparking accusations of cheating after he appeared to suffer a curious injury.
After losing to India by 24 runs, Australia needed Bangladesh to defeat Afghanistan, but not by more than 45 balls to spare, to advance to the last four.
In a strange match filled with brief rain delays and questionable tactics, star Khan was Afghanistan’s hero as he recorded a dramatic eight-run victory over Duckworth-Lewis.
However, many have questioned the unsportsmanlike actions of Afghanistan, who appeared to fake an injury to waste time.
With rain approaching during the match, Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott instructed his players to slow down the pace, clearly expecting play to be stopped.
Immediately after this, Gulbadin Naib, who fielded at first slip, fell backwards clutching his hamstring and claimed to be seriously injured.
Had the game not been able to continue at this stage, Afghanistan would have progressed to the semi-finals by beating the Australians.
Afghanistan reach T20 World Cup final with historic victory over Bangladesh
‘Oh no no no, I’m sorry. You can’t allow this,” commentator Simon Doull said.
‘I’m not going to accept that.
‘Even Rashid (Khan) doesn’t like him.
“They are just delaying tactics. I understand it but I don’t like it at all. It is unacceptable.
“They may have gone off anyway because of the rain, but it doesn’t look good.”
“I know that the Euro Cup is held in football, you would be better off there.”
It comes just two days after Afghanistan defeated Australia to put them in the box to qualify for a World Cup semi-final for the first time.
But Bangladesh opener Litton Das threatened to cruelize Afghanistan’s dream, carrying his bat with an unbeaten 54 in the Tigers’ total of 105, chasing a revised target of 114.
Adelaide Strikers star Khan (4-23) and Naveen-ul-Haq (4-26) ensured that Afghanistan did not fall short of the semi-finals like they did in last year’s ODI World Cup.
Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma scored 92 off 41 balls to help India to 5-205 in St. Lucia, before Travis Head’s 76 could only take Australia to 7-181 in reply.
The victory means Afghanistan will play South Africa in the first semi-final.
“Come on Bangladesh,” captain Mitch Marsh joked after Australia’s earlier defeat.
‘…India beat us. In the end they were the best team.”
Australia were always on the defensive at the Daren Sammy Stadium.
Rohit took charge when he helped make 29 runs in the third over of the game against Mitchell Starc, after the left-arm spinner was called up in place of spinner Ashton Agar.
Starc (2-45) was not alone in taking the punishment, with Pat Cummins (0-48), Adam Zampa (0-41) and Marcus Stoinis (2-56) all scoring more than 10 points.
In a brutal display of hitting, Rohit smashed eight sixes and seven fours, clearing the boundary over cover and mid-wicket with a mix of brilliant timing and sheer power.