(AFP Photo)
Rashid Khan, the captain of Afghanistan, attributes his team’s successful journey to the Super Eight stage in the ongoing T20 World Cup to the invaluable experience gained from domestic and franchise cricket. With three consecutive victories in the first round, Afghanistan secured their place in the next stage of the tournament, following in the footsteps of co-hosts West Indies.
Rashid Khan commended his players for their adaptability and skill set, particularly highlighting their ability to thrive in various conditions. Following a dominant performance against Papua New Guinea, where Afghanistan won by seven wickets, Khan praised his team’s efforts.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Afghanistan’s bowlers restricted Papua New Guinea to a modest total of 95 runs in 19.5 overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi claimed three wickets, supported by Naveen-ul-Haq who secured two scalps.
In the chase, Gulbadin Naib’s unbeaten 49 propelled Afghanistan to victory with 29 balls to spare, showcasing their determination and prowess in the tournament.
“They (the openers) have given us good starts in the last two games and today was a good opportunity for the others to spend some time in the middle. We had a domestic competition before coming here and everyone are in form,” Rashid said in the post-match presentation.
“That is the beauty of playing of franchise cricket as you know the conditions, some of them have played at St Lucia and know how the pitch will play which will help others. Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition and hopefully, we will win that game (against WI) as well,” he added.
Upon advancing to the Super Eight stage, the prominent spinner emphasized that the achievement is a testament to the collective contributions of the players on the field.
“Feeling great to qualifying for the next round. Great effort from the boys since game one. They know what they to do and have executed beautifully, making things easy for me.
“It is important to have someone like Gurbaz who goes out and takes on the bowling or Farooqi who picks up wickets in the powerplay. If the batter is attacking then as a bowler you have to attack too especially with pitches helping you,” he said.
Afghanistan is set to face West Indies in their concluding Group C encounter in Tarouba on June 17th.
