"Wonders can happen" - Gulbadin Naib thanks physio amid injury controversy in AFG vs BAN 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 game
Afghanistan's Gulbadin Naib grabbed headlines for allegedly faking a hamstring injury during the team's Super 8 match of the 2024 T20 World Cup against Bangladesh on Tuesday, June 25. The all-rounder collapsed soon after head coach Jonathan Trott signaled to slow things down as it started to drizzle.
The incident took place in the 12th over of the run chase when Bangladesh were just two runs behind the DLS par score at that time. Amid the drizzle, Naib tried to apparently waste time by calling the physio on the field to check his injury.
Naib seemed to have recovered from the injury quickly as he came to bowl the 16th over, where he claimed the wicket of Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Afghanistan ultimately eked out a thrilling eight-run win (via the DLS method).
Interestingly, Naib sprinted in delight after his team's historic win, raising further questions over the legitimacy of the injury.
Taking to his Instagram handle following the game, the 33-year-old thanked Afghanistan's physio Prasanth Panchada for helping him out with his hamstring issue.
Gulbadin Naib wrote in his Instagram story:
"Wonders can happen."
With their victory, Afghanistan advanced to the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals, eliminating Australia and Bangladesh in the process. Naib conceded just five runs off his two overs while taking a wicket.
"I don't know what's going on in social media, but that doesn't matter" - Rashid Khan defends Gulbadin Naib
At the post-match press conference, Rashid Khan clarified that Gulbadin Naib wasn't faking an injury. The Afghan captain stated that the player had a cramp and the team are unfazed by what's being said on social media about the injury.
Rashid also pointed out that the delay did not have any major impact on the game and said:
"Well, he had some cramp, I don't know what happened to him and I don't know what's going on in social media, but that doesn't matter. It's just an on-field injury which happens, the rain came and we just went off, it's not something [that] brought a massive difference in the game. We came back on field after five minutes and there was no massive difference. For me, it's just like a small injury happens, then you have to take some time."
Afghanistan are set to take on South Africa in the first semifinals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The match will be played in Trinidad on Thursday, June 27 (IST).