Afghanistan lost to England in a thrilling match, trapping England at 215 runs after setting a target of 284 runs. On that day in Delhi, three spinners, Mujib Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi, took 8 wickets together.
The style of victory against Pakistan in Chennai was quite different. Afghanistan, with Babar Azam, scoring 282 runs, clinched the game by taking 6 wickets in just 8 balls. Afghanistan’s strengths in both bowling against England and batting against Pakistan have shown their versatility in the World Cup.
Today, Afghanistan will play against Sri Lanka in their sixth match of the World Cup. The upcoming match has been a topic of discussion in the press conference of the Afghan captain. A journalist asked Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, “What is the reason for your team’s current form?” In response, Shahidi explained the hard work, planning, and perseverance that the team has put in over the past two years. He mentioned that the team has been working consistently with the same squad and brought in Navin-ul-Haq, who wasn’t part of the team before, specifically for improving their pace bowling.
Regarding their preparation for the World Cup, Shahidi added, “We didn’t start with the World Cup. We have been working on this for the last two years. We have regularly played against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. We have played a lot of domestic fifty-over cricket. We were very consistent in our planning. Even when we weren’t performing well, we had faith in the team and the players. They have been given a lot of opportunities.”
In summary, Afghanistan’s performance in the World Cup has showcased their determination and hard work. They have shown their ability to adapt and succeed against different opponents, whether through strong spin bowling or solid batting performances.
