Veteran India off-spinner R Ashwin has backed former Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib’s antics in the Super 8 clash against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024 which drew a lot of flak on social media and questioned the spirit of cricket.

Naib fell on his back while fielding at the slips after Afghanistan coach  Jonathan Trott signalled to slow down the proceedings so that his side stays ahead on DLS method as the rain was imminent.

“Jonathan Trott was telling from the dressing room to slow it down and after that Naib fell on the ground like a broken tree branch. Everyone is saying he will be penalised for it. But what’s the problem? The guy is playing for his country, trying to win a World Cup qualifier ,” Ashwin said in his YouTube channel.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rules that a player can be banned for up to two matches for deliberate or repetitive time-wasting antics. However, Naib escaped with first and final warning from the match referee in this instance.

Earlier, Naib had also responded to Ashwin’s hilarious tweet after the incident.

“Red card for Gulbadin Naib,” Ashwin said on X.

“Kabi khushi kabi gham main huta hai (It happens sometimes when you are happy or when you are sad. Hamstring,” Naib responded.

Afghanistan will take on South Africa in the semi final 1 of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad on Thursday.