Afghanistan made a blunder during the Asia Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday and were knocked out of the event as a result.
Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan after a thrilling clash by two runs to qualify for the Super 4. Afghanistan were dismissed for 289 runs in 37.4 overs while chasing a target of 291 runs.
Afghanistan needed to chase down the target in 37.1 overs or less in order to qualify for Super 4, which they couldn't achieve.
However, they could've finished above Sri Lanka on net run rate if they had reached 293 after 37.2 overs, 294 after 37.3, 295 after 37.5, 296 after 38 overs, or 297 after 38.1.
But it seemed that last man Fazalhaq Farooqi didn't know that as he defended three balls in the 38th over, while also getting dismissed on the third one, rather than giving the strike to Rashid Khan, who had scored 27 off 16, on the other end.
This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place because a similar thing happened during the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
While chasing a target of 190 in 14.3 overs, Mumbai Indians reached 189 in that time but ensured they achieved their required net-run-rate by smashing the next ball for six to finish on 195 in 14.4 overs and edged Rajasthan Royals to qualify for the playoffs.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott also admitted that his team was unaware of the calculations.
"We were never communicated those calculations," he said. "All we were communicated was we needed to win in 37.1 overs. We weren't told what the overs in which we could get 295 or 297. [That we could win in] 38.1 overs was never communicated to us."
It must be noted the NRR calculations are done by analysts, who are usually part of backroom staff of top teams in the world.
“It is shame how it was clearly communicated at the break and also confirmed by the match referee and match operations that 37.1 of as the mark we needed to chase and post-match they also confirmed that past 37.1,” Afghan team analyst Mohsin Sheikh posted on X, which was formerly known as Twitter.
“We were clearly confirmed from operations and match referee that we could win but not qualify past the 37.1 mark. It is easy to be keyboard warriors and abuse yet not appreciate the brand of cricket we played,” he added.