In the match between Afghanistan and England yesterday, Eoin Morgan was absolutely brilliant with a knock of 148 from just 71 balls. His strike rate of 208.45 is proof enough that the Afghan bowlers economy would have soared up. Unfortunately, Rashid Khan was a victim of Morgan’s bat. The young spinner conceded 110 runs in his 9 overs becoming the costliest bowler in World Cup History and the first spin bowler to give more than 100 runs in an ODI. Of course, the figures made Twitter erupt with memes making fun of the bowler’s century. But what stands out more is the support fellow cricketers have been giving Rashid Khan.

Following a tweet by Iceland Cricket about the bowler, several others have stepped up to take his side. The tweet said: “We’ve just heard that Rashid Khan has scored Afghanistan’s first century of the #CWC19! Wow! 110 from 56 balls. The most runs ever scored by a bowler in the World Cup or something. Well batted young man. #ENGvAFG #AFGvENG.” Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, and Ish Sodhi condemned the tweet calling it a “rubbish tweet.” They also praised the bowler saying that he is “setting the benchmark for Leg Spin Bowlers around the world.” It is heartening to see the opponents in yesterday’s match, England players themselves lending their support to Rashid Khan.

It has to be said that it is not every day that a 20-year-old gets selected in a World Cup Team. If Rashid Khan is where he is today, it is because on more than one occasion he has proved that he can spin matches around for his team, leading them to victory. The youngster has already played 63 ODIs in which he has taken 128 wickets. In addition, his best figures are 7/18 and he has 4 five-wicket hauls in the 50-over format. Judging a player based on one match doesn’t tell one the whole story. We all have our bad days, and there’s no doubt that the spinner will soon bounce back stronger.

We’ve just heard that Rashid Khan has scored Afghanistan’s first century of the #CWC19! Wow! 110 from 56 balls. The most runs ever scored by a bowler in the World Cup or something. Well batted young man. #ENGvAFG #AFGvENG pic.twitter.com/3vklzCeIJt

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) June 18, 2019

Rubbish tweet. Rather than trying to be funny why not be respectful to someone that has done so much for cricket and especially associate members ?? https://t.co/0z3F8KiS82

— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) June 18, 2019

He is a world class bowler & a delight to watch. Everyone has bad days in our sport

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) June 18, 2019

Terrible tweet https://t.co/3ybKo3pKcE

— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) June 18, 2019

Agreed. Setting the bench mark for Leg Spin Bowlers around the world he is... @rashidkhan_19 https://t.co/1lsPXNGjzZ

— Ish Sodhi (@ish_sodhi) June 18, 2019