Afghanistan's left-arm pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, created a moment of confusion during a Champions Trophy 2025 Group B match against South Africa at the National Stadium in Karachi on Friday, particularly concerning South African batter Aiden Markram. The nature of Farooqi's actions raised questions: Was it a friendly gesture or a deliberate act? If it was intentional, why did the match referee not intervene?

The incident occurred in the final over of South Africa's innings, which Farooqi was bowling. After delivering a well-executed yorker that Markram managed to play and run for a single, Farooqi while returning to his bowling mark, unexpectedly pushed Markram at the non-striker's end. His expression appeared serious at that moment, but shortly thereafter, a subtle smile emerged as he continued his approach.

Commentators Pommie Mbangwa and Shaun Pollock expressed their bewilderment regarding Farooqi's behaviour.

Mbangwa remarked, "I wonder if that was meant to be friendly. It certainly seems friendly enough."

Pollock responded, "Is it? I’m not entirely convinced it was friendly."

Mbangwa added, "I’m not sure. It’s hard to interpret it any other way unless it was."

Replays indicated that Markram raised his bat in a manner that was neither overtly angry nor shocked, further complicating the interpretation of the incident.

It is worth noting that Farooqi and Markram are teammates at the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

South Africa blow away Afganistan

Ryan Rickelton achieved his first ODI century, supported by fifties from captain Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram, leading South Africa to a comfortable 107-run victory over Afghanistan.

Rickelton scored 103 runs off 106 balls, hitting seven fours and one six, which helped South Africa set a formidable total of 315 for 6 in the Group B match held at the National Stadium.

The South African pace attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada (3 wickets for 36 runs), Wiaan Mulder (2 for 36), and Lungi Ngidi (2 for 56), effectively dismissed the highly regarded Afghanistan team for a mere 208 runs in 43.3 overs.

South Africa successfully countered the threat posed by Afghanistan's spin bowlers, with star leg-spinner Rashid Khan failing to take a wicket and conceding 59 runs in his 10 overs.

Rahmat Shah was the standout performer for Afghanistan, scoring a determined 90 runs off 92 balls, which included nine boundaries and one six, before being the last player dismissed.

In pursuit of a challenging target, Afghanistan required a strong start but lost their dynamic openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 10 and Ibrahim Zadran for 17, within the first 10 overs.

Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for 16, and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi went out without scoring, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 50 for 4.

Shah and Azmatullah Omarzai (18) managed to advance the score to 89 before Rabada and Marco Jansen, who dismissed Mohammad Nabi, effectively dashed Afghanistan's hopes of a successful chase.

Rashid Khan provided a brief moment of excitement for the crowd with a rapid 18 runs off 13 balls, which included one six and three boundaries.

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