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Afghanistan pacer Naveen ul Haq, known for his spirited behaviour both on and off the field, particularly on social media, didn’t shy away from voicing his thoughts following Afghanistan’s significant win over Australia in the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage at Arnos Vale on Saturday.

The Afghan pacer, instrumental in the victory, took to Instagram to celebrate the triumph and highlight the lack of support Afghanistan has faced during their rise in international cricket, contrasting it with the sudden influx of congratulations they receive after success.

Naveen up Haq Share a Cryptic Post on Social Media

Naveen shared a split image on Instagram: one half showed a lone spectator with the text “Support,” and the other half depicted a packed stadium labeled “Congratulations.” He captioned the post with a silence emoji, subtly criticizing the inconsistent support for Afghan cricket. His post likely referenced Australia’s decision to forfeit a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2023.

Prior to Afghanistan’s ODI World Cup 2023 match against Australia, Naveen had taken a jab at Australia on Instagram, stating, “Refusing to play the bilateral series, now it will be interesting to see cricket Australia stand in the World Cup. #standards, #humanrights or 2 points.” Despite Afghanistan losing that match due to Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary double-hundred, they managed to secure a historic win over Australia in the T20 World Cup a few months later, with Naveen taking 3/20 in his four overs, leading to a 21-run victory.

Australia had forfeited the ODI series after the Taliban imposed restrictions on women’s education and employment. This decision prompted Naveen to express his disappointment publicly. He even withdrew from the Big Bash League, where he was set to represent the Sydney Sixers, following Australia’s refusal to play the series in March. Australia was also scheduled to play a Test match against Afghanistan in November 2021, but it was abandoned after the Taliban took control of the country in August that year.

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