Afghanistan pulled off a major upset at the T20 World Cup, defeating cricketing powerhouse Australia in a nail-biting encounter. Afghan seamer Naveen ul Haq emerged as the hero, taking wickets at crucial junctures to script his team’s first-ever victory over the Aussies in international cricket. The win was a historic moment for Afghan cricket, and the celebrations were understandably wild. But following the match, a cryptic post by the 24-year-old pacer on Instagram has left fans intrigued. The post seemingly contrasts the support he received during difficult times with the outpouring of congratulations after his match-winning performance. This has sparked speculation about past struggles Naveen ul Haq may have faced, and how his success on the world stage has brought him the recognition he deserves.
Afghanistan create history
The game began with Afghanistan batting first after losing the toss. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran set a solid foundation with scores of 60 and 51, respectively. However, the middle-order struggled to capitalise, with Mohammad Nabi and Karim Janat reaching double figures. Rashid Khan & Co. posted a total of 148 runs, with Australian captain Pat Cummins taking three wickets, including a historic second consecutive hat-trick in the tournament.
Australia’s chase got off to a disastrous start, losing openers Travis Head and David Warner cheaply. Despite a fighting 59 from Glenn Maxwell, the former champions batting lineup crumbled under pressure from Afghanistan’s bowlers.
Gulbadin Naib was the standout performer with four wickets, while Naveen ul Haq’s crucial spell of 3/20 in four overs, including the dismissals of Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Ashton Agar played a significant role in restricting Australia to 127 all out.
The victory has major implications for both teams in the T20 World Cup. For Afghanistan, it keeps their semi-final hopes alive as they play their last Super Eight match against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Australia now finds itself on the verge of elimination with their last Super Eight fixture the mighty Indians.
