'Cricket is a game not your policy' - Fans lash out at Asif Ali for his unruly behavior in the match against Afghanistan

The last day was a complete package for the cricket fans as they witnessed a nail-biting thriller between Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2022. Apart from the action of the match, there was something else that dropped a black spot at the gentlemen’s game. All it happened on the ground between senior Pakistani batter Asif Ali and Afghanistan pacer Fareed Ahmed in the 19^th over of Pakistan’s inning.

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Fareed Ahmed scalped the wicket of Asif Ali at the fifth ball of the 19^th over. The celebration from the bowler didn’t go down well with the senior Pakistani batter and he involved in a brawl with the pacer. Asif’s unruly behavior is being criticized by the entire cricketing fraternity as he showed the bat to Fareed Ahmed while having a heated argument.

The fans also demanded for banning him from the tournament after the ungentle behavior on the ground and tarnishing the gentle image of cricket. They too to Twitter for lashing out at Asif Ali.

Here’s how Twitter reacted after Asif Ali – Fareed Ahmed brawl:

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#Terrorist in the field of #sports #Asif #Ali #Pakistani athlete pic.twitter.com/of3MBe0c5u

— Ismail Khan (@Ismailsahak123) September 7, 2022

Cricket is gentlemen game what is the penalty for such a behavior? #Asif Ali's behavior is totally not acceptable in a sporting environment🤔@ICC @ICCMediaComms #AFGvsPAK #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/2ICKfp9JOX

— Darya Khan Shinwari 🇦🇫 (@daryashinwari19) September 8, 2022

Dear @ICC . #Asif Ali should be banned from the rest of cricketing or atleast from #AsiaCup2022 . pic.twitter.com/e4Mzc3IcDK

— Hafiz Omari (@HafizullahOmari) September 7, 2022

I am Hashmat Khan from Afghanistan 🇦🇫
I kindly request @ICC to discipline Pakistani cricketers, and #Ban #Asif for his today’s violent & threatening action toward @fareedmalik56
As well, I urge Pakistan’s government to Don’t bring terrorism to cricket too, behave your guys! pic.twitter.com/BGLtJhr2aT

— Hashmat Khan (@Hashmat_Khan7) September 8, 2022

Is this law of cricket ?
is cricket a terroristical game ?
If no , so why @ICC do not react against these kinds of terrorists ?

finally we #cricket_fans want from #icc to ban #Asif others cricket games.@ICC pic.twitter.com/1uGDZlHhB9

— Fitrat Khan (فطرت) (@sangar_fitrat) September 8, 2022

#Asif Ali of pak tried to hit #Afg Fareed Ahmed with bat, he behaved like a terrorist. ⁰Crickt is beauty, this kind of action is not acceptable, @ICC must take some strict disciplinary action against this guy, Asif Ali.#PakvsAfg #AFGvPAK #AsiaCup2022 https://t.co/Eie7KUXCrp pic.twitter.com/CCsS7DSWNi

— Nasratullah Hotak (@NasratullahHot2) September 7, 2022

#SanctionPakistan Stop rising Acting like Terrorists in Cricket game it’s a game not your #ISI Policy.. shame on #Asif … u won the game but our Players Won the Hearts frm everyone.. Afghans living in their Land not u r Land Remember #SanctionPakistan @ICC #BanAsifAli pic.twitter.com/RA3H7LpWO3

— Feroz khan (@Ferozkh33490599) September 7, 2022

Pakistan cricket team's should be broadcasted with PG warning 🔞

#AsiaCup2022#NaseemShah #Asif

— Muhammad Noman Hafeez (@NOMANHAFEEZ2) September 7, 2022

@ICC should ban asif ali from tournament for his bad behaviour and bad sportsmanship he should be fined too so that they won’t repeat in future such foolishness #cricket is game of joy and sportsmanship #AsiaCup2022 #ICC #Ban #Asif

— Zayn احمد (@zain_aka) September 7, 2022

Having a glance at the match, then batting first for Afghanistan, Number three batter Ibrahim Zadran scored 35 runs off 37 balls with two balls and a six to his name for Afghanistan. Other than him, opener Hazratullah Zazai was the only other batter who crossed the 20+ mark with an individual knock of 21 runs off 17 balls with four boundaries on his credit. Rawalpindi-based pacer Haris Rauf scalped two wickets for Pakistan in this low-scoring match.

While chasing the target, Pakistan couldn’t get a good start as they lost their three wickets on the score of 45 runs in 8.4 overs. The match went into a thriller when the Pakistani side faced a batting collapse and they happened to lose their nine wickets at the end of the 19th over. Vice-captain Shadab Khan played a crucial knock of 36 runs off 26 balls with a boundary and three sixes. Other than him, Iftikhar Ahmed also scored 30 runs off 33 balls with two boundaries.

Naseem Shah ended up as a hero for Pakistan when he smashed two consecutive sixes in the first two balls of the last over. It was the time when Pakistan needed 11 runs off 6 balls, eventually, Pakistan registered a thrilling one-wicket win against Afghanistan.