‘Give respect, take respect’ – Naveen-ul-Haq responds after verbal spat with Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Amir during LPL 2020

Shahid Afridi, the former Pakistan cricketer, was involved in a heated exchange with Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq. The incident panned after the match between the Kandy Tuskers and Galle Gladiators at the Mahinda Rajapaksha Stadium in Hambantota. The players were doing the handshakes when Naveen charged at Afridi, leaving a latter the tad shocked and bemused.

Haq, who played for the Tuskers, had shared some words with paceman Mohammad Amir and as a result, Afridi wasn’t a happy man by any means. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan, who’s also with the Gladiators, was also seen around.

Afridi’s advise for Naveen-ul-Haq

After all the chaos surrounding the event, the Khyber Agency-born Afridi reacted, saying that he only asked Naveen to respect the opponent and not resort to foul language.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “My advise to the young player was simple, play the game and don’t indulge in abusive talk. I have friends in Afghanistan team and we have very cordial relations. Respect for teammates and opponents is the basic spirit of the game.”

Here’s Afridi’s tweet

My advise to the young player was simple, play the game and don't indulge in abusive talk. I have friends in Afghanistan team and we have very cordial relations. Respect for teammates and opponents is the basic spirit of the game. https://t.co/LlVzsfHDEQ

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) December 1, 2020

And now, Naveen also responded to Afridi with a scathing message. The youngster lashed out at the veteran for speaking wrong about him and the people of Afghanistan.

He replied and wrote, “Always ready to take advice and give respect, Cricket is a gentleman’s game but if someone says you all are under our feet and will stay their then he is not only talking about me but also talking abt my ppl. #give #respect #take #respect.”

Here’s Naveen’s reply

Always ready to take advice and give respect,Cricket is a gentleman’s game but if someone says you all are under our feet and will stay their then he is not only talking about me but also talking abt my ppl. #give #respect #take #respect

— Naveen ul haq (@imnaveenulhaq) December 1, 2020

As far as the game was concerned, Afridi, the skipper of the Gladiators, ended up on the losing side. He got out for a golden duck to Seekkuge Prasanna but gave only 25 runs in the four overs he bowled. He also scored a blistering half-century against the Jaffna Stallions on November 27.

Naveen, on the other hand, bowled well as he picked up the wicket of Shehan Jayasuriya, conceding only 33 runs in four overs. In the tournament thus far, the 21-year-old from Kabul has eight wickets from four matches with best figures of 3/44 against the Jaffna Stallions on December 1.