Asia Cup 2023: Naveen-ul-Haq Targets Virat Kohli After Being Left Out Of Afghanistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Published - 28 Aug 2023, 12:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 09:42 AM
Cricket fans were eagerly waiting for a potential clash between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The two have not played against each other since the infamous altercation a few months ago in IPL 2023.
The duo were involved in a heated exchange on the field while Naveen-ul-Haq was batting. Virat Kohli had allegedly told his teammates to target the tail-ender with bouncers and it had not gone down well with the Afghan pacer. The India star was also seen making a derogatory gesture with his shoe towards Naveen-ul-Haq.
The altercation spilled into the post-match handshakes when Naveen-ul-Haq refused to shake hands with Virat Kohli. Moments later, Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir also entered the dispute and was seen having an animated discussion with Virat Kohli before they were separated by other players. Since that match, the two have not played any game against each other.
And it would not be wrong to say that the fans were eagerly waiting for a potential meeting between the two in the upcoming Asia Cup. However, Afghanistan have dashed the hopes by not including Naveen-ul-Haq in their team for the continental championship.
Naveen-ul-Haq reacts:
And the fast-bowler has reacted to the snub with a cryptic post on Instagram on Sunday (August 27). After Afghanistan announced their squad for Asia Cup 2023, Naveen-ul-Haq took to the social media platform to post a selfie and wrote:
“No matter how well your eyes adjust to darkness, you’ll never mistake it for light.”
View this post on Instagram
The latest snub is yet another blow to Naveen-ul-Haq’s international career as he continues to be ignored by his national team. A highly-rated pacer, he has not played an ODI since January 2021. He last played for his side in March this year during the T20I series against Pakistan.
Naveen-ul-Haq was expected to make it to the squad for Asia Cup 2023 after Afghanistan’s 0-3 loss against Pakistan in the recently concluded ODI series. However, the Afghanistan selectors decided to keep the pacer away from the ODI side. The snub means he is unlikely to play in the World Cup too.
Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2023: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
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