Rashid Khan registered bowling figures of 9-0-110-0 against England in the World Cup on Tuesday (Reuters Photo)Rashid Khan registered the worst ever figures in World Cup history in Manchester on Tuesday, going for 110 runs in his nine overs against England. His figures were the second worst in ODI history and the worst ever for a spinner in an ODI match.
However, things could easily have been very different. Eoin Morgan, who eventually scored 148, was dropped on 28 by Dawlat Zadran in the deep off Rashid Khan’s bowling.
His unusual performance drew a lot of surprise and the meme machines went on overdrive. Iceland Cricket, the Twitter handle which has taken the world of cricket by storm over the last two years, was one of many who trolled Rashid Khan.
“We’ve just heard that Rashid Khan has scored Afghanistan’s first century of the #CWC19! Wow! 110 from 56 balls. The most runs ever scored by a bowler in the World Cup or something. Well batted young man,” read their tweet.
We’ve just heard that Rashid Khan has scored Afghanistan’s first century of the #CWC19! Wow! 110 from 56 balls. The most runs ever scored by a bowler in the World Cup or something. Well batted young man. #ENGvAFG #AFGvENG pic.twitter.com/3vklzCeIJt
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) June 18, 2019
However, this tweet was not received very well. England cricketers Luke Wright and Stuart Broad were two among those who criticized the tweet.
Luke Wright tweeted: “Rubbish tweet. Rather than trying to be funny why not be respectful to someone that has done so much for cricket and especially associate members.”
Rubbish tweet. Rather than trying to be funny why not be respectful to someone that has done so much for cricket and especially associate members 🤬 https://t.co/0z3F8KiS82
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) June 18, 2019
Stuart Broad chipped in with: “He is a world class bowler & a delight to watch. Everyone has bad days in our sport.”
He is a world class bowler & a delight to watch. Everyone has bad days in our sport
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) June 18, 2019
New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi also joined in:
Agreed. Setting the bench mark for Leg Spin Bowlers around the world he is… @rashidkhan_19 https://t.co/1lsPXNGjzZ
— Ish Sodhi (@ish_sodhi) June 18, 2019
As did Australia pace legend Jason Gillespie:
Lack of respect this…. https://t.co/KLcweDIfiX
— Jason Gillespie 🌱🌈 (@dizzy259) June 18, 2019
Even former India spinner Pragyan Ojha expressed concern over Rashid Khan’s bowling figures, saying that such figures indicate that the balance between bat and ball has been ‘disturbed’.
“What on earth is the pitch made of? There should be a balanced competition between the bat and the ball. You feel sad when the balance is disturbed. #RASHIDKHAN’s bowling stats in the match is a shocker,” he tweeted.
What on earth is the pitch made of? There should be a balanced competition between the bat and the ball. You feel sad when the balance is disturbed. #RASHIDKHAN’s bowling stats in the match is a shocker! #ENGvAFG #CWC19
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) June 18, 2019
For an indication of how much of a discrepancy Rashid Khan’s spell on Tuesday was, he conceded 11 sixes in his nine overs – the most conceded by a spinner in an ODI – which is the same number of sixes he had conceded in his previous 28 innings combined.
