Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by one wicket in a nail-biting thriller to advance to the final. Chasing a small target of 130, the Men in Green struggled against the Afghani bowlers.
Mohammad Nabi and his men pulled the match back in their favor after picking up six quick wickets in the final five overs.
Pakistan was nine down and required 11 off the final over. Star bowler Naseem Shah came to his team’s rescue and smashed two sixes on the first two balls off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s over.
Despite being one of the most entertaining matches in the Asia Cup 2022, things turned ugly in the penultimate over of the match.
In the 19th over, Fareed Ahmad dismissed Pakistan’s Asif Ali, the last recognized batter for Pakistan, shifting the game’s momentum.
After the dismissal, Ahmad celebrated aggressively in front of Ali, who crossed the limits and pushed Ahmad away. The players had to be separated, and Ali’s actions were bound to draw a severe penalty.
Experts from both nations have condemned Ali’s behavior and opined on the nature of punishment the 30-year-old should serve.
The latest to opine his views on the matter is former Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) CEO Shafiq Stanikzai. Shafiq slammed Ali for his actions and demanded a ban for the rest of the tournament.
He took to Twitter and wrote, “This is stupidity at the extreme level by Asif Ali and should be banned from the rest of the tournament. Any bowler has the right to celebrate, but being physical is not acceptable at all.”
Fans across the globe have condemned the action and demanded the strictest punishment.
Pakistan has advanced to the finals and will play Sri Lanka on Sunday. The two nations will also lock horns on Friday as a part of the Super 4 schedule.
Thus, the maximum punishment the Pakistan team would be hoping for is a one-game ban. Since his absence against Sri Lanka on Friday won’t be troubling.