Afghanistan’s victory over England on Wednesday has given the facet an actual shot at qualifying for the knockout levels of the Champions Trophy. One one who just isn’t shocked by the staff’s progress is its former coach, Lalchand Rajput. The ex-India cricketer, at present the UAE’s head coach, was happy along with his former staff’s progress.
“I recently said to someone ‘don’t be surprised if they make it to the semifinals.’ It is heartening to see their performance. I have seen them go from nothing, and reaching this level is something. Their cricket has grown well,” stated Rajput, who coached the facet from 2016 to 2017, throughout which period the outfit additionally acquired its Test standing.
“Seeing the guys like Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib, guys I have worked with, do well is very nice,” he stated.
Rajput defined that in his time, he began two and three-day matches between provincial groups in Afghanistan, which has helped the staff develop. “They started with four teams and now have six. Playing red-ball cricket, teaches the batters to play long innings, which then helps with one-day cricket. Similarly, the bowlers also learn to bowl 15-20 overs and it becomes easier to bowl 10 overs in a match,” stated the 63-year-old.
A win for Afghanistan in opposition to Australia will take the facet into the final 4 and it may face India right here within the first semifinal relying on each groups’ relative positions of their respective teams. If that occurs, it will be a particular second for Shahidi’s males to play in a rustic which was as soon as their ‘home’ venue.
Afghanistan used the long-lasting Sharjah Cricket Stadium as its house floor within the early days of worldwide cricket and lately beat South Africa 2-1 in an ODI sequence final yr. Some former Afghan cricketers at the moment had daytime jobs within the Emirates whereas pursuing cricket.
Mazhar Khan, General Manager on the Sharjah Cricket Stadium added, “In 2010, Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, who built the stadium, announced that Sharjah will be their home venue when they were here for the Intercontinental Cup. They are passionate boys and love playing here in Sharjah because they have got a lot of support from their fans in this part of the world.”
“At that time, I think they had some very fast bowlers, but were a bit erratic in the early days. But once Rashid Khan came in, he made a huge difference alongside players like Mohammad Nabi,” stated Mazhar.
Published – February 27, 2025 11:15 pm IST
