Usman Khawaja congratulated an “inspirational” Afghanistan team after they defeated Australia in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match in Kingstown while expressing his dissatisfaction with Cricket Australia’s stance regarding playing a bilateral series with the Afghans.
Khawaja, who plays as an opener for Australia in Tests, congratulated Afghanistan while calling them the better team on the day. He also stated that it is sad that he cannot see the entire Afghanistan team play in Australia.
"Well done Brother. Better team on the day. You boys are an inspiration for so many back home and abroad. So sad we can't see you all play in Australia," Khawaja wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Since 2021, Cricket Australia (CA) refused to play Afghanistan three times citing women’s education and employment opportunities as reasons to not play.
In 2021, Afghanistan women’s team was dispersed and some members also fled the city after the Taliban took control of the city. Right after that, Australia refused to play a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Hobart.
Meanwhile, in 2023, before the ODI World Cup 2023, the Aussies decided not to play a three-T20I series against the Afghans in UAE. Recently, they declined to play a T20I series which was scheduled for August.
Earlier, Australia elected to bowl first and restricted Afghanistan to 148 runs at the loss of six wickets. Marsh’s men then failed to chase the target of 149 and fell 22 runs short.
Their highest run-scorer in the game was Glenn Maxwell who scored 59 off 41 balls. Gulbadin Naib turned out to be the star bowler for Afghanistan as he dismissed four of Australia’s batters — Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins and Tim David.
Naveen ul Haq took three wickets in his four-over spell and gave away 20 runs. but the star of the show was Gulbadin Naib, who clinched 4-20 and was declared Player of the Match.
"Thanks to Dear Allah. We've waited for a long time. Big moment for our nation and our people. I have no words to say but thanks to the fans who have supported us in our career and cricket journey," Naib said after the match.
"I learnt from the batting innings on how to bowl. Thanks to Rashid for trusting me. It's a whole team effort, Rahmanullah, Zadran, and also Naveen for the momentum. It is a great achievement for Afghanistan, we have achieved many things in last ten years but this is a big achievement.
"In the last World Cup we played well and in this World Cup we beat New Zealand too. Australia are a champion side so for us it is a big tournament. Lucky to have this kind of team and management."
Naib became the first man in World Cup history (ODI and T20 combined) to take four wickets as an 8th bowler. Afghanistan used eight bowlers tonight, Naib was the last one.