KARACHI: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi opened up after his heated argument with South African opener Matthew Breetzke during the tri-nation series match at National Bank Stadium on Wednesday.
Pakistan defeated South Africa by six wickets, courtesy of captain Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha’s centuries, to qualify for the tri-nation series final against New Zealand.
However, the first innings of the match witnessed some heated moments, which resulted in Pakistan players getting penalised.
During the 28th over of South Africa’s innings, Shaheen Afridi deliberately obstructed batter Matthew Breetzke as he ran a single, resulting in physical contact and a heated exchange between the two players.
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While speaking in an interview, Shaheen accepted that he had teased the opener to unsettle him and take his wicket. He further explained that what happened between them remained exclusively on the field.
“For the first time, Matthew didn’t say anything. I kept teasing him to get a wicket. Whatever happened on the field stayed there,” said Shaheen.
He further stated that after the game, both players shook hands, and everything settled.
“After the match, Matthew and I met, shook hands, and became good friends,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the fast bowler was fined 25 percent of his match fee for breaching Article 2.12 of the ICC’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.
Meanwhile, his teammates Saud Shakeel and substitute fielder Kamran Ghulam were fined 10 percent of their match fees for celebrating too closely to South African captain Temba Bavuma following his run-out in the 29th over.
READ:Â Pakistan trio fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct in South Africa clash