Controversy runs rife as Afghanis prevail over Bangladesh to end Aussies' World Cup campaign

Australia’s T20 World Cup journey is over after Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by eight runs (DLS method) in a thrilling contest to finish off the Super 8 stage.

The Aussies lost to India earlier on Tuesday and needed a small Bangladesh win to progress on in the tournament, with their fate in the hands of another nation.

Andrew McDonald’s men would have been waiting with bated breath in a see-sawing, controversial contest where three different countries could have progressed all through the final overs.

But what the win meant to Afghani cricket was obvious in the immediate aftermath, with players and support staff alike screaming for joy as they rushed the field.

However, the incident that will dominate discussion came midway through the final innings, just after Bangladesh lost hope of a big win to qualify for the final four.

With Bangladesh 81-7 and behind by just two runs on the Duckworth Lewis system in the 12th over, Afghanistan coach Jonathon Trott appeared to signal from the sidelines for calm and mouthed for his side to "slow down".

Shortly after, Gulbadin Naib – stationed at first slip to the bowling of tweaker Noor Ahmad – went down clutching his right hamstring. Rain then hit St Vincent, with the players taken from the ground.

If the game had finished at that point, Afghanistan would have been declared winners and quality for the final four of the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“This is the most ridiculous cricket match going on right now,” SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan told SEN Afternoons.

Of Gulbadin’s actions, former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian Healy declared: “That was rubbish… and he’ll have a reputation forever in cricket. He’ll probably never forget that very poor piece of sportsmanship.”

“He was clearly under instruction from the dugout,” Australian sporting great Andrew Gaze explained on SEN’s The Run Home of the bizarre controversy.

“The most remarkable coincidence in the history of sport... in the schemes of things it's unsporting and it’s not really acceptable...”

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa took to Instagram to comment: “The old rainstring.”

A nail-biter played out, with Bangladesh opener Litton Das doing all he could to carry his bat and finish on 54 not out.

He simply ran out of partners at the end, leaving the Aussies stranded.

“I think everyone was a bit untidy… and the coach left a bit too much to the team, by the sound of his comments,” Healy said of the Aussies’ tournament.