Cricket World Cup: Australia v Afghanistan, Naveen-ul-Haq Instagram post calling out double standards

With a World Cup semi-final spot on the line, Australia and Afghanistan already have plenty to play for - but Naveen-ul-Haq has poured petrol on the fire of a spicy clash.

Afghanistan paceman Naveen-ul-Haq has taken a public swipe at Cricket Australia, insinuating a double standard over the governing body’s preparedness for the men’s national side to face Afghanistan in a World Cup match but not a bilateral series.

The Aussies meet Afghanistan on Tuesday in Mumbai, with both sides fighting for a semi-final spot.

It marks the first meeting of the teams since CA cancelled a one-day series scheduled for March this year, due to have been held in the United Arab Emirates, on the grounds of Afghanistan’s human rights issues and in particular the Taliban’s repression of education and employment.

The series was due to be tacked onto the end of the Indian tour earlier this year, squeezing players further before the Indian Premier League season and Ashes tour.

At the time, Afghanistan star Rashid Khan said he would reconsider his future in the Big Bash League because of CA’s stance. Rashid ultimately nominated for the BBL draft and was retained by the Adelaide Strikers.

But the issue remains thorny given CA has delineated between bilateral series and global ICC tournaments where the stakes are clearly higher.

Australia played Afghanistan at Adelaide Oval in a Twenty20 World Cup match 12 months ago.

Afghanistan's Naveen-ul-Haq made a pointed Instagram post about Australia. Picture: AFP

Afghanistan quick Naveen took to social media on Saturday night during the Aussies’ match against England.

“Refusing to play the bilateral series, now it will be interesting to see cricket Australia stand in the World Cup #standards #humanrights or 2 points,” Naveen posted on Instagram.

CA explained its decision to withdraw from the bilateral series in January.

“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” CA said, having consulted with its ethics commissioner before making the call. “We thank the Australian Government for its support on this matter.”

Instagram story by Naveen...!!!!

- Australia, In January, canceled the ODI series vs Afghanistan due Taliban restrictions on women and girls rights. pic.twitter.com/EqaiPq3yLp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 4, 2023

MOTT’S CAREER ON THE LINE AS MIDAS TOUCH WEARS OFF

“Being at the right place at the right time is a pretty good strategy.” – Matthew Mott on SEN last November.

Not even 12 months ago, former Queensland and Victorian batter Mott secured an extraordinary piece of history. In the same calendar year, he had coached sides to World Cup titles women’s and men’s cricket respectively. Having led the Aussie women to redemptive glory at the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand in April, Mott was appointed England’s men’s white-ball coach the following month and by mid-November had guided the team to a Twenty20 World Cup final victory against Pakistan at the MCG.

Yet as the calendar rolls into November 2023, Mott appears to be fighting to save his job.

It is an astonishing turns of events for a man that had the Midas touch for half a decade. Having replaced Cathryn Fitzpatrick as Australian women’s team coach in 2015, Mott helped turn an already strong side into a dominant force.

After falling in the final of the World T20 in 2016 and semi-final of the 50-over World Cup the following year, Australia stormed through the next five years, winning pretty much everything including two T20 World Cups, the ODI World Cup and retaining the Ashes a further three times.

Matthew Mott (L) with England captain Jos Buttler after their sides heavy defeat to South Africa. Picture: Getty

When Mott signed a four-year contract to coach England’s white-ball outfits, he was not a stranger to coaching men’s sides, having led NSW and Glamorgan before taking over with the Australian outfit.

He joined the English setup at a something of a nadir for the men’s side, which had won just one of 17 Tests and was drubbed 4-0 in Australia, leading to the sacking of coach Chris Silverwood, batting coach Graham Thorpe and managing director Ashley Giles.

This of course paved the way for Brendon McCullum’s BazBall revolution, which steamrolled its way through New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan only to fall narrowly short of regaining the urn in the epic 2-2 series earlier this year.

However while McCullum was starting at ground zero, Mott wasn’t taking over a poor side. He was inheriting a white-ball powerhouse that had won the World Cup in 2019 and would frank its T20 bona fides Down Under later last year.

Mott and Michael Hussey after the 2022 T20 World Cup. Picture: Getty

Mott with Australian captain Meg Lanning and the 2022 World Cup trophy. Picture: Getty

Whereas in the past Mott’s timing had been a strength, on this occasion the only way was down, particularly with an ageing squad that because of repeat T20 World Cups and the renewed focus on the Test arena. had not prioritised one-day cricket as it had in the lead-up to 2019.

Unlike fellow Australian Trevor Bayliss four years ago, Mott has not had the luxury of calling on Jofra Archer to turbocharge England’s limp attack. And having shifted thinking about one-day batting before the last World Cup, England’s top six has flopped spectacularly.

Five defeats from six matches left Mott’s side at the bottom of the World Cup table heading into Saturday’s date with Australia in Ahmedabad. Semi-final hopes are gone, and now England has been left in a scrap even to finish out of the bottom two and qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

England’s campaign has been a trainwreck from the start. Picture: Getty

Despite Mott’s denials, former captains Michael Vaughan and Eoin Morgan have spoken of disquiet in the camp, the former pointing the finger at the strangely timed mid-tournament release of central contracts.

Morgan, as the winning captain from 2019 who only retired from international cricket last year, looms large as a leading pundit, and in the eyes of some of the English commentariat, a potential successor to Mott.

Already several of the England press pack are reporting that Mott has three matches to save himself, notwithstanding his contractual status.

All is not well: There are rumours of a split within the England camp. Picture: Getty

Jimmy Maher, a member of Australia’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad, is a friend and former Queensland teammate of the England coach.

He said England’s issues were as much mental as technical.

“In World Cups (and) tournament style cricket momentum is everything,” Maher told this masthead.

“If you get off on the wrong foot it can be hard to get it back and that’s what’s happened here with England.

“They haven’t lost any skill as such and in general they will be planning the same way they were planning when they were winning, their execution is letting them down and much of that is in the mind.

“Tough challenge for Motty but he’s well equipped to handle it and I would back him 100 per cent. Motty would be trying to keep it simple.

“Get back to basics and it doesn’t take much for the wheel to turn. It’s been unfamiliar territory for all of them as they went into the World Cup as reigning champions and had big expectations, sometimes that can be harder to deal with.”

Mott might be about to learn that last part in brutal fashion.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Australia v Afghanistan, Naveen-ul-Haq Instagram post calling out double standards