Ahead of the match against Team India in Delhi, Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq spoke at length about his demeanour and style while also shedding light on why he decided to walk away from ODI cricket after the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup. Talking about his attitude, Naveen said that he 'never backs down from a fight' and it has been ingrained in him since he was a child. The same was very much reflected when Naveen clashed with Indian superstar Virat Kohli during an Indian Premier League (IPL) contest between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) earlier in the year.
Earlier, Naveen shocked the cricket fraternity after he announced his retirement from ODI cricket after reaching India for the World Cup 2023. The Afghanistan pacer announced that he will retire from the ODIs after the completion of the ODI World Cup.
“It has been an absolute honour to represent my country would like to announce my retirement from ODI format at end of this World Cup and will continue to wear this blue jersey in t20 cricket for my country it hasn’t been an easy decision to make but to prolong my playing career had to take this tough decision would like to thank @afghanistancricketboard and all my fans for their support and unwavering love,” Naveen wrote in a post on his Instagram account.
Reflecting back on his decision, Naveen said that he was forced to make the call because of the injuries and in order to prolong his T20 career. It is important to note that Naveen is still 24 years old.
"This (retirement) decision was extremely difficult for me. From the time you're a child, you dream of playing and representing your country. But there comes a time when you have to make such a decision, especially when your career is short-lived," he said in a video shared by the ICC on Instagram.
"It's incredibly hard for me, but sometimes you have to end certain things. I'm not quitting one-day cricket for any other reason but due to my injury. After the IPL, I sustained an injury, and when I consulted doctors, they told me that if I played shorter formats, my body would get more recovery time. So, I decided that if I want to prolong my career, I'd have to leave this format.
"I want to play more one-day cricket for my country, but now that I'm quitting this format, I want to say that I want to enjoy this World Cup and give my best. Let's see what the future holds for me. However, I will continue playing T20 cricket for my country," he added.
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