Afghanistan and Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq‘s heated argument with former RCB skipper Virat Kohli last night at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, was perhaps the tipping point of the ugly turn of events which dictated the proceedings till the post-match presentation.
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While it is unclear as to what led to the fight and who was responsible to have sparked the raging fire initially, it was not the first time that Naveen had been part of a more or less similar verbal altercation with an opposition player on the field of play.
It was the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League in the year 2020, and the Afghan pacer was involved in a heated exchange of words initially with Mohammed Amir, and later Shahid Afridi post the match.
Naveen Ul Haq Shahid Afridi Fight
Galle Gladiators, skippered by Shahid Afridi, had lost the sixth match of the season against Kandy Falcons by 25 runs. Post the match, Kandy fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq had a heated argument with Gladiators’ pacer Mohammed Amir as the players involved themselves with the formal handshakes.
While Naveen’s fellow teammates did intervene and tried to end the matter, the duo kept swearing at each other until the Afghan pacer stood in the queue to shake hands with the rest of the Gladiators players.
It was at this point that Naveen had come face-to-face with Afridi. The former Pakistan skipper was all smiles while congratulating the opposition players, but got instantly enraged the moment he saw Naveen, and perhaps inquired as to what was wrong with him.
Naveen too made sure he had put his case before Afridi as well, as the latter then quickly went past him to greet the other players.
Naveen opens up on the crux of the matter
The following day, Afridi revealed on social media had he had advised Naveen to refrain from indulging in abusive talks, and that the respect for fellow teammates and the opposition is the ‘basic spirit of the game’.
As a reply to Afridi’s tweet, Naveen later revealed that Amir had exclaimed that people from Afghanistan will always remain under their feet, and that this comment did not go down well with him as it had also insulted the people of Afghanistan.
Interestingly, during last night’s fight between him and Kohli, the latter had at one point while arguing with Naveen, perhaps commented something while gesturing towards his right-leg shoe.
Was Kohli referring to the aforementioned remark allegedly made by Amir as Naveen had claimed? Perhaps we may know never know.
