The Asia Cup 2022 has produced another last-over finish when on Wednesday Pakistan defeated Afghanistan in Dubai with only one wicket left. In fact, all the four Super 4 round matches have gone till the last over.
And now we have our finalists: Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both have won two matches each – over India and Afghanistan – both of whom now have been eliminated from the race for the final.
As the Pakistan-Afghanistan came got close and the latter held a strong position, tempers flared up and this caused a serious physical altercation between Pakistan batsman Asif Ali and Afghanistan pacer Fareed Malik.
Asif Ali could get a ban after his gesture to hit Fareed Malik
Like he did against India, Asif Ali was taking the game away from the opposition having clattered a couple of big sixes. On the 4th ball of the 19th over, bowled by Fareed Malik, Asif smokes a six-over cow corner to bring Pakistan back on top.
But the bowler, Malik, had the last laugh over Asif as on the very next ball, Fareed bowled a bouncer which hurried onto Asif who mistimed his pull shot and was caught by Karim Janat at fine leg. The Afghanistan players and their supporters erupted in joy. Amid this a wild scene ensued between Asif and Fareed.
Watch: Full uncensored fight between Asif Ali and Fareed Malik
After Janat completed the catch, Fareed went in the face of Asif and screamed and fist-pumped in the air. Unhappily, Asif shoved Fareed a bit away and began to turn when the bowler retaliated with plenty more words.
That enraged Asif further and he turned back sharply with his bat up, almost as if he was going to hit Fareed with his willow. Unflustered with Asif’s action, though, Fareed further moved into the batter and gave him a shoulder bump.
Thankfully, before things could get even worse, fielder Azmatullah Omarzai ran in between the two hot-headed players and separated them, but both Asif and Fareed continued with verbal volleys before other players and the umpires intervened to calm them down. Phew – that was some almost WWE battle there.
You can watch the full fight here:
— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) September 7, 2022
Ban Asif ali for this. #PAKvAFG pic.twitter.com/GQ9UoTbpvy
— Gems of E-lafda (@GemsofELafda) September 7, 2022
Here are some of the memes on this matter:
YouTube thumbnail pic.twitter.com/DxRamPnzyY
— Mon (@4sacinom) September 7, 2022
Commentators!!! 🫣pic.twitter.com/bBXZcB8GMR
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) September 7, 2022
Naseem Shah after Asif Ali’s fight with an afghan player 😜 pic.twitter.com/UVfxlJf9M8
— Waqas J Butt (@WaqasJbutt) September 7, 2022
this is literally ALL i see 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/AnjCvHiXJE https://t.co/FWjmtI9kfn
— MS (@mxhfcb) September 7, 2022
REAL cricket https://t.co/b4rNQYnGOx
— ً (@nightsley) September 7, 2022
Hasan ali watching asif ali and fareed.#PAKvAFG #IndvsPak #INDvPAK https://t.co/Ui3YONbN82 pic.twitter.com/yGr4Tv1PTp
— Halaaa TREY (@asadMANCpak) September 7, 2022
This feels more like a rivalry than India vs Pakistan does https://t.co/SVlXcSMDRZ
— Jai (@CarloHive) September 7, 2022
Finally youtubers got a real thumbnail 🤣 pic.twitter.com/onwWVYxMwK
— Akshat (@TotalKohli49) September 7, 2022
The match referee is expected to make sanctions against the two players; maybe Asif could face a match ban. A one-match ban for Asif won’t hurt Pakistan in their next game, which is against Sri Lanka as they have now qualified for the final. But, nonetheless, such behaviours have no place in Cricket.
