(Image Source: Instagram)
[Saba Sports News] On September 23, 1999, the emerging Afghan cricketer Naveen ul Haq celebrated his 24th birthday, receiving well-wishes from various cricketing figures. Gautam Gambhir, the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL, also extended his birthday greetings with a special Instagram post.
Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer, shared a picture of himself with Naveen on Instagram and penned a message: “Happy Birthday @naveen_ul_haq! There are very few like you. Stay true to yourself!” Surprisingly, this birthday post by Gambhir sparked controversy among some fans, who interpreted it as a veiled dig at Virat Kohli.
The controversy stemmed from a heated altercation between Kohli and Naveen during Match 43 of the IPL 2023, when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clashed with Lucknow Super Giants. This on-field incident even led to a verbal exchange between Kohli and Gambhir, becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.
It’s worth noting that Gambhir has publicly criticized some of Kohli’s actions in the past, while also acknowledging Kohli’s outstanding cricketing achievements. Nevertheless, a certain section of fans believes that Gambhir harbors jealousy toward Kohli and attempts to undermine him.
In other developments, Naveen recently earned a spot in Afghanistan’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad, despite being omitted from the team for the Asia Cup 2023. He had last played an ODI in January 2021 against Ireland, securing 14 wickets from seven ODIs at an average of 25.42 and an economy rate of 5.78.
Naveen’s impressive performance in IPL 2023 also garnered attention, as he claimed 11 wickets from seven innings at an average of 19.90 and an economy rate of 7.82. His standout moment came when he achieved bowling figures of 4/38 in four overs against the Mumbai Indians during the Eliminator.
Afghanistan is set to kick off their World Cup campaign with a match against Bangladesh on Saturday, October 7, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Prior to that, they will engage in two warm-up games against South Africa on September 29 and Sri Lanka on October 3.