Afghani opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz had to be piggybacked off the Gabba after he was struck on the toe by fast bowler Shaheen Afridi.
In the first over of the T20 world cup warm-up match between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Gurbaz was given out LBW after he was struck plumb in front facing his first ball on just the fourth ball of the match.
He then started to limp off the pitch but was unable to get to the boundary unassisted. Such was the pain he was experiencing, the team physio was forced to come onto the field to treat his toe, before he was piggybacked off the field.
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”Bang on the toe and that is painful, not only has he lost his wicket, but he’s hurting as well,” Sunil Gavaskar said in commentary.
Fellow commentator Simon Doull agreed.
“Yeah no that’s nasty. He’s still yet to make his way off the field – the very first ball he faces he gets a ripper from Afridi.”
But when Gurbaz still hadn’t made his way off the field by the time they returned from a break, Doull was less than impressed.
“We have a break in play and I’m not sure why – just get off the field, you’re out,” he said.
“The new batter hasn’t even walked onto the ground yet. I know this is a warm-up game, just help him off. Why is it taking so long?
“And if he’s not out of the complete tournament after this I’ll go hee because he should’ve just walked off.”
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The game is being played under threatening skies in Brisbane.
As Gurbaz was carried off the pitch, laughter could be heard from the back of the commentary box.
“I have never seen this before. I’m sorry I’ve seen a lot of things on a cricketing field before but I have never seen this before,” third commentator Tom Moody said.
But there was still some concern for the 20-year-old right hander.
“I know we’re laughing a little at this but this could be something quite serious – let’s hope it’s not,” Gavaskar said.
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