Pakistan's renowned news network ARY news slammed Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran for his controversial statement after their eight-wicket win in the 2023 World Cup clash on Monday in Chennai. With Zadran dedicating his Player of the Match award to the Afghan people forcibly sent back home from Pakistan by the government, the TV anchor and an expert joined during the discussion lashed out for bringing politics amid cricket. They also slammed Zadran for neglecting Pakistan's efforts to rejuvenate Afghanistan cricket.
Zadran struck a vital 87 at the top, stitching a 130-run opening stand with Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the 2023 World Cup clash in Chennai. However, Zadran made no efforts to hide his emotion and said the below in the post-match presentation. He stated:
"Thankful that I performed well in this event. I wanted to play with a positive intent. Many times Gurbaz and I have done a brilliant partnership together. We have played a lot of cricket together, right from the Under-16 days. I want to dedicate this man of the match award to those who are sent back to Afghanistan from Pakistan."
It didn't go well with Rashid Ali, who joined the discussion, and lashed out at the comment, especially after players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, who have coached Pakistan in the past. The anchor notably started the story by stating the lines as below:
''Afghanistan ne Pakistan ki mehmaan nawazi ki kadar nahin ki. Pakistan ne kareeb 40 saal tak Afghan logon ko mehmaan banakar rakha. Afghan ballebaaz Ibrahim Zadran ne Pakistan Ki Qurbani Par Paani Pher Diya. Afghanistan ki jeet ko Pakistan se wapas jaane waale gair kanooni afghanon ke naam kar diya."
(Afganistan didn't care about the hospitality provided to Afghanistan even as they provided it to 4000 people. Afghanistan batter Ibrahim Zadran forgot the sacrifice Pakistan made for them and dedicated it to the illegal Afghan refugees.)
Rashid Ali, who was present in the discussion called out the ungratefulness and underlined that they don't know the difference in status between genuine refugees and illegal immigrants.
Afghanistan register their first ODI win over Pakistan:
The eight-wicket win also proved to be Pakistan's first defeat to Afghanistan in 8 meetings. The Men in Green had beaten the opposition on all 7 occasions before this, including the three-match ODI series that took place before Asia Cup 2023.
The defeat has made Afghanistan's path to the semi-finals even more tricky.
