'First, They Crossed The Line. Then, They Started Crying': Salman Butt Slams Afghanistan For Disrespect During Pakistan Game In Asia Cup 2022

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt slammed the Afghanistan team and its players for their behavior in the recent Asia Cup suer fours clash against Pakistan in Sharjah on September 7, 2022. Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 1 wicket to eliminate them and India from the race to the final.

In an interesting and tight encounter, Pakistan managed to keep Afghanistan to 129/6 in 20 overs. Only Ibrahim Zadran (35) and Hazratullah Zazai (21) went past 20-run mark. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf took 2 wickets, while Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan picked one wicket apiece.

In reply, Afghanistan controlled the game until the last over as Fareed Ahmed picked 3/31 and Fazalhaq Farooqi took 3/31 as well with Rashid Khan contributing 2/25.

However, Iftikhar Ahmed’s 30 and Shadab Khan’s 36 kept the Men in Green in the game and then Naseem Shah hit two sixes in the final over when 11 runs were required to send Pakistan into the final of the Asia cup where they will face Sri Lanka on Sunday.

I Think It’s Just The Way They Reacted, That Inspired Us To Win: Salman Butt

During the match, a controversial incident happened as Fareed Ahmed and Asif Ali almost came to blows as Ali got a send-off from Ahmed after being dismissed. The ball before Ali had hit a six off the Afghan bowler and he got a reaction from the bowler after his wicket was taken.

Following the game, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt also spoke in detail about the same, insisting that Afghanistan had first crossed the line with Ahmed calling out Asif.

“When Asif was dismissed, he was leaving the pitch. But the bowler stood on his way and he abused Asif. I know you have the desperation to win, but there’s a line you shouldn’t cross. There’s a thing called respect for the opposition. As long as they continue to behave this way, they won’t succeed.

It’s a game. Everyone thought Pakistan would lose after Asif’s wicket. No one thought Naseem would hit two sixes. Even I felt a little strange when I saw the bowler behaving that way. It’s just a game of cricket” said Butt.

However, when Pakistan won, Naseem Shah and other Pakistani players celebrated in grand style, while Afghanistani players were in tears.

“I think it’s just the way they reacted, that inspired us to win. And you can see the reactions from Pakistan players after that, it was definitely in reply to that incident. The way Khushdil sprinted, the way Hasan Ali celebrated… They haven’t reacted in that way even after beating India. I think it was too far across the line. And then, they started crying. You don’t cross the line first,” said the former Pakistan skipper.

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