T20 World Cup: Critics allege match fixing after India Afghanistan clash
Karim Janat (R) of Afghanistan celebrates with teammates two West Indies wickets during the 2nd T20i match between West Indies and Afghanistan at Warner Park, Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 03, 2017. Rain interrupted play June 3rd with the West Indies at 79 for two off 11 overs batting first against Afghanistan in the second fixture of a three-match T20 International series. / AFP PHOTO / Randy BROOKS (Photo credit should read RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
Nov 4, 2021: After India won their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 by defeating Afghanistan on Wednesday, which failed to compete well, Pakistani cricket fans used the hashtag #wellpaidIndia and claimed that the match was fixed.
Those making fixing claims presented the toss video as an important piece of evidence.
Fans also say there was an overall lack of emotion after losing in the match against India, which is in contrast to Afghanistan team reactions after losing to the Pakistan side in a match that came closer to the one played yesterday. At the time, Asghar Afghan said he was personally affected by the defeat.
Further, according to Pakistani fans’ rumour mill, it was not Afghanistan’s defeat that set off the match-fixing rumoura. Afghanistan’s failure to create a semblance of a playground battle and the ease with which it took the loss raises questions.
Additionally, Pakistani fans claim, Virat Kohli is heard telling Mohammad Nabi that Afghanistan should “bowl first” and that afterwards, Nabi announces the same decision to the presenter. A claim later refuted as preposterous by analysts.
Unlike fans, former Pakistani cricketing legends reject all claims of fixing. Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has also ruled out the possibility of match-fixing. Speaking on Geo News he said Afghanistan did not plan well to play the match. In the same show, Mushtaq Ahmed blamed the defeat on Nabi’s bad leadership skills and Inzamam ul Haq said that it was usual for younger teams to falter when under pressure.
In response to Pakistan’s #wellpaidIndia hashtag, Indian and Afghan fans used the #WeSupportBlueTigers hashtag. Users posted videos of Afghan and Indian fans celebrating together.
An apparently anti-Pakistan Afghan national Fazal Afghan said both Afghanistan and India were “our own teams.”
Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!
T20 World Cup: Australia’s current standing and prospects
