In a recent Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), an altercation took place between Afghanistan’s pacer Naveen-ul-Haq and Indian cricket team’s captain Virat Kohli at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on Monday. This incident sparked a series of events, including a heated argument between former RCB captain Kohli and former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir.
Following this incident, Pakistani cricket legend Shahid Afridi shared his perspective on the matter. Afridi once engaged in a similar argument with Naveen during the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2020. Speaking to a Pakistani media channel, Afridi expressed his opinion on the altercation between Naveen and Kohli.
According to Afridi, Naveen only reacts when he is provoked without any major reason. “I have seen Naveen bowling, he gets beaten at times as well, but I have never seen him trying to get involved in a fight. He only reacts when he is provoked unnecessarily. I do not think I have ever seen him with this level of aggression,” Afridi said.
Afridi also spoke about the natural aggression that exists in fast bowlers and mentioned that every team has players who possess this trait. “Aggression in fast bowlers is very natural. Every team has some players who possess this trait. We have them as well, and it is normal,” he added.
It is worth noting that after the altercation between Naveen and Afridi during the LPL 2020, Afridi took to Twitter to advise the young player to refrain from using abusive language and show respect to his opponents. “My advice to the young player was simple, play the game and don’t indulge in abusive talk. I have friends in the Afghanistan team and we have very cordial relations. Respect for teammates and opponents is the basic spirit of the game,” Afridi tweeted.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken notice of this incident and imposed fines on Kohli and Gambhir, who were fined 100 percent of their match fees. Naveen was fined 50 percent for his involvement in the altercation.
Afridi’s perspective on Naveen and Kohli’s quarrel sheds light on the importance of maintaining sportsmanship and respect for fellow players on and off the field. The incident serves as a reminder for players to exhibit a positive attitude and spirit of fair play in the game of cricket.
