Asia Cup 2022: Asif Ali Should Be Banned From The Rest Of The Tournament- Former ACB CEO Shafiq Stanikzai After Asif Ali Raising Bat At Fareed Ahmad

Babar Azam-led team reached the tournament final with a one-wicket win in Pakistan vs Afghanistan encounter on Wednesday (September 7). During the thrilling chase, Pakistan batsman Asif Ali and Afghan fast bowler Farid Ahmed Malik exchanged heated words.

Asif Ali hit the ball for a six in Malik’s over and tried a pull shot on the next ball, but the ball took the top edge and Karim Janat took a safe catch over his head at short fine leg. After his dismissal, Ali was seen raising his bat at the speedster, other players on the field and the umpires to intervene.

Afghans Reacted To Asif Ali Raising Bat At Fareed Malik On Twitter

Former Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib tweeted, “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″

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

Former Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai criticised Pakistan batter, Asif Ali, saying his actions were “stupidity” and that the Pakistan batter should be banned from the rest of the tournament. 

Stanikzai tweeted, “This is stupidity at the 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.”

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 https://t.co/ebnqSaRRmD

— Shafiq Stanikzai (@ShafiqStanikzai) September 7, 2022

Biased and One-Sided Representation Of The Incident:  Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar termed the representation of the entire episode as unfair and one-sided. He subtly highlighted that it was Malik’s fault for starting the argument in the first place.

Biased & one sided representation of the incident. We all know what happened there. Come on guys, you're @ESPNcricinfo . https://t.co/7ACxqI7ite

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 7, 2022

Pakistan has advanced to the tournament’s finals, which will be played on Sunday vs Sri Lanka (September 11). Pakistan and Sri Lanka won both of their Super 4 matches and will now compete for the trophy.

Afghanistan and India, on the other hand, impressed in the Group stage but were eliminated from the tournament after failing to win a single game in the Super 4 stage. However, India and Afghanistan will face off one last time in this competition in order to secure at least one victory before returning home.

Also Read: Watch: ‘Asia Cup Nahi Jaani Chahiye’ – Shaheen Afridi Tells Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf In Video Conversation