The 24-year-old Afghanistan National Cricket Team left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi got physical with the 30-year-old South Africa National Cricket Team all-rounder Aiden Markram on Friday, February 21.
The incident involving Aiden Markram and Fazalhaq Farooqi happened during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Also Read: Watch: Temba Bavuma grabs stupendous catch to dismiss Hashmatullah Shahidi in CT 2025
Aiden Markram creates history with his fifty vs Afghanistan
Markram played a brilliant knock for the Proteas in the match against the Afghans. He played an attacking brand of cricket through the innings and his late blitz helped South Africa post a huge score of 315/6 on the board.
Aiden Markram completed his fifty off 33 balls and it was the fastest ever half-century for South Africa in Champions Trophy history. He broke the record of Graeme Smith and Ryan McLaren – both of whom had a 40-ball fifty to their name.
Aiden Markram remained unbeaten for 52 runs off 36 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Other than him, Ryan Rickelton, Temba Bavuma, and Rassie van der Dussen showcased a batting masterclass.
Rickelton smashed 103 runs off 106 balls, which was his maiden ODI ton, while Bavuma and van der Dussen scored 58 and 52 runs, respectively. Notably, this was just the second instance in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy that four or more players registered 50-plus scores in an innings. The first team to achieve this feat was India against Pakistan in 2017.
Coming back to the incident involving Fazalhaq Farooqi and Markram, it happened on the second ball of the 50th over. The pacer bowled a yorker to Markram, who dug it out towards extra cover for a single.
As Markram was moving towards the other side of the crease, Fazalhaq, who was returning back was seen pushing the Proteas star. However, things were not heated and it was just a playful banter as when Markram stared at Fazalhaq Farooqi, the latter was seen passing a smile.
Watch: Fazalhaq Farooqi gets physical with Aiden Markram
Shame on Fazalhaq Farooqi. Should be penalised for this behaviour on field #SAvAFG pic.twitter.com/kjBsCP7dsP
— Mid-Wicket (@MidWicket11) February 21, 2025
I think we set it up nicely – Rassie van der Dussen
The veteran South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen, while speaking to the broadcasters during the mid-innings break, lauded the top-order batters for laying the platform for a big score and expressed delight over their performance. He said:
“I think we set it up nicely, the guys in the top-3 allowed the batters to come in set-up to bat with intensity, pretty happy with how we’ve played.”
While talking about the track on the offer, Rassie van der Dussen said that it reminded him of a pitch at the Wanderers and signed off by saying that he was happy with his innings. He said:
“The bounce is up and down, reminding me of the Wanderers wicket, there’s bounce, but there’s cracks as well, one or two stayed low, some bounced, there’s some grassy pitches, skids on, stay on the wicket and don’t give the batters any easy runs (on the way to bowl on this wicket). Pretty happy with my innings.”
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