Watch:Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi showed incredible game awareness during the ongoing World Cup 2023 match between India and Afghanistan, signalling to the on-field umpires to call a no-ball after hitting a four in the 21st over.
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Afghanistan were reduced to 63-3 after they elected to bat. Jasprit Bumrah set things up for India with a brilliant new ball spell, dismissing Ibrahim Zadran for a 28-ball 22. Hardik Pandya ensured the early return of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, while Shardul Thakur chipped in with the wicket of Rahmat Shah for a 22-ball 16.
Jadeja came to bowl his third straight over after giving away only two runs. He pitched the first ball of the 21st over on a full length, just outside off. Shahidi edged it while attempting a slog-sweep, and the ball went to the boundary. Shahidi showed terrific presence of mind as he immediately requested the on-field umpires for a no-ball as there had been five fielders outside the 30-yard circle. The umpire verified the appeal, declaring the next ball a free hit.
Shahidi used his license and went across to have a spite. The edged shot ballooned up in the air over mid-on. Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai went on to add 121 for the third wicket. Omarzai was bowled by an off-cutter from Pandya for a well-made 62, while Shahidi went on to score a run-a-ball 80, comprising eight fours and a six.
Earlier, India brought in Thakur as a replacement for R Ashwin, while Afghanistan went with an unchanged team. Keeping in mind the high-scoring South Africa-Sri Lanka match at the same venue, Rohit Sharma brought in the extra pacer to bolster the line-up. Thakur was also preferred over Mohammed Shami, who had a hat-trick when India played Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup.
Watch Hashmatullah Shahidi appeal for no-ball immediately after hitting four | CWC 2023
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