Pakistan’s Asif Ali played an exceptionally quick knock against Afghanistan to help give his team a 3-0 start to their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. In just seven deliveries, the middle-order hitter scored 25 runs, 24 of which came off sixes.

For his unbeaten and rather heroic performance with the bat to turn the tables in favour of the tournament underdogs, Ali was honoured with the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

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However, there was one very specific moment in the game, when Ali celebrated his innings by borrowing a page out of former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s book. He took the front end of the bat and put it on his shoulders, and used his hand to mimic the mechanics of a rifle. 

Trying to make the most out of the match-winner’s celebration, his Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United used the pictures to ask the fans for their reactions. However, they soon realised the kind of mistake they had made.

Caption this #PAKvAFG #T20WorldCup #UnitedForPakistan #UnitedWeWin pic.twitter.com/1mQgXQEp6Z

— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) October 29, 2021

Instead of commending Ali on his batting abilities and six-hitting prowess, the comments section was abuzz with discussions about terrorism in Pakistan and the promotion of violence in a cricket ground.

Cricket is temporary terrorism is permanent ..

— नेताRam Yahoo 2.0 (@Ankush__Mishra) October 30, 2021

Showing his Real Passion

— Kachra Seth (@Kachra_Se) October 30, 2021

Cricket is part time, Full time is this:

— Ê (@weeb_0_0) October 29, 2021

@ICC This is serious violation ICC Code of conduct Level 4 for on field gestures.

* A player cannot use any gestures which glorifies violence or terrorism.

— Dr.Virus (@SarcasticViru) October 29, 2021

Profession ko kitna bhi chhipaw kisi roop me bahar aa hi jata hai

— Prof. Dhoni 2.0 (@_introvertNigga) October 29, 2021

"He (Asif Ali) is known for this. He has played many innings at the PSL (Pakistan Super League). So I was very confident he'd get us out of any trouble we find ourselves in," Pakistan captain Babar Azam said after his team scored a hat-trick of wins to stay on top in group 2 points table. "I was confident pre-tournament itself that he would deliver when needed."

This isn’t the first time that Ali had to carry the team on his shoulders across the finish line. Just a couple of days ago, he had also played a very important and mature inning to get the victory over Kane Williamson’s New Zealand squad.

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"Yes, I knew that there was a single, but I had confidence that I will hit sixes and score the needed runs," Asif said. "They did not bowl towards the shorter boundaries but I hit him towards the longer side."

Asif said he had been practicing batting under such pressure. "My job is to hit sixes, so I practice in scenarios based on situations, needing to hit sixes in the last five overs type situations," he said.

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