With an purpose to raised their current success, Ibrahim Zadran and his males have began sweating over their prowess forward of the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
Hosted by the USA and West Indies, the most important cricketing extravaganza of the 12 months is scheduled to happen over the month of June the place the Afghans are seemingly thought-about a group to be careful for.
Kickstarting their World Cup preparatory marketing campaign on a constructive observe, Afghanistan not too long ago overshadowed UAE 2-1 in a three-match T20 sequence.
In an unique interview with TimesofIndia.com, former Afghanistan captain and cricketing icon Asghar Afghan conveyed his confidence that Afghanistan ought to safe a spot within the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
Visibly assured on the again of the group’s excellent efficiency within the ODI World Cup, Afghan remarked, “Afghanistan ought to play the semi-final of the T20 World Cup as a result of, within the USA and West Indies, they may discover the identical type of circumstances as it’s in Asia. There, bowlers get spin, and the ball typically comes late on the bat. And that might play to our benefit.
“And with the type of outcomes they acquired within the ODI World Cup, Afghanistan ought to positively play the semi-final of the World Cup. However they should work extraordinarily exhausting for that. And if they may imagine in themselves, nothing is unimaginable for Afghanistan.”
Diving deep into the small print that led to their meteoric rise, the Afghanistani cricketing legend added, “Undoubtedly, Afghanistan’s efficiency within the ODI World Cup was distinctive. We performed extraordinarily properly in opposition to England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. We now have at all times wished to play cricket in opposition to larger cricketing nations as a result of our gamers are very gifted, there isn’t any doubt about that, and we cannot get that have if we do not play these huge matches.
“Earlier than the World Cup, we performed in opposition to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh within the Asia Cup. There have been ODI sequence in opposition to all these groups earlier than the Asia Cup. And enjoying all these matches helped us enhance within the World Cup.”
Afghan, now 37, firmly believes that enjoying extra cricket in opposition to high-caliber opponents will enhance their general skillset.
“If this Afghanistan facet continues to play house and away sequence in opposition to the larger sides, I’m sure that we’ll see a unique Afghanistan within the T20 World Cup. Folks will get pleasure from our cricket, and it is going to be significantly better than this ODI World Cup,” stated the Kabul-born all-rounder.
Afghan emphasised the necessity for a unified group effort. He asserted that each one gamers are well-equipped to excel within the shorter format of the sport. In line with Afghan, the main focus ought to be on collective contributions fairly than particular person performances.
“All of our gamers are T20 specialists, together with our children, as a result of they largely play T20 in Afghanistan. And that is why I’m assured of our boys in T20 as a result of they’ve the expertise. However it is usually essential how they put together forward of the World Cup.
“We had a great preparation for the ODI World Cup, and we now have sufficient time to organize for the T20 World Cup now. I can not say proper now who’s going to carry out or not. Everyone has the prospect, however it is very important put together the group first. If we play some huge matches and work on our method, I’m positive that we’ll play 90 p.c higher than our final T20 World Cup,” he concluded.
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Earlier than their tour to Sri Lanka in what can be their remaining bid for preparation forward of the T20 World Cup, Afghanistan are all set to lock horns with India in a three-match T20 sequence commencing on January 11.
