Skipper Rashid Khan believes that Afghanistan’s maiden T20 World Cup semifinal qualification, following spectacular wins over New Zealand and Australia alongside the best way, is a momentous feat that can encourage the youth of the strife-torn nation.
Afghanistan, who grew to become a full ICC member solely in 2017, scripted historical past by qualifying for its maiden T20 World Cup semifinal with a win over Bangladesh right here.
“I feel (reaching) the semifinal goes to be an enormous inspiration for the kids again dwelling in Afghanistan,” Rashid stated on the post-match press convention.
“And we’ve got finished it below 19 degree, however this degree we haven’t finished that. Even Tremendous Eight was first time for us after which in semis,” he added.
Moments after the win, visuals of jubilant followers again dwelling celebrating Afghanistan’s historic achievement began doing the rounds on social media.
With the feat, Afghanistan has proven how a lot it has progressed within the white ball codecs. Eventually yr’s ODI World Cup, they upset defending champions England and former winners Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Afghanistan will plan to proceed its giant-slaying run on the T20 World Cup, having crushed heavyweights New Zealand and Australia.
“The cricket we’ve got performed within the match up to now – I feel we need to be within the semis. The way in which everybody took the accountability of entering into the sport and performing greatest for the group,” stated Rashid.
“So, I don’t know the way I can describe my feeling, nevertheless it’s an enormous achievement for us as a group and as a nation to be within the semis and now wanting ahead to the semis.” The Afghanistan cricket group is a gaggle of people who’ve honed their expertise by plying their commerce in T20 leagues. However once they come collectively to play for his or her nation, it’s exhausting to discover a extra passionate bunch.
Afghanistan has discovered the proper head coach in former England cricketer Jonathan Trott, who balances issues out along with his calm and composed manner.
The result’s a facet excessive on self-belief.
An unbeaten South African group awaits them within the semifinal. However the Proteas had been stretched a number of instances within the match, particularly by minnows Nepal, who stumbled on the ultimate juncture, dropping by a run.
“Nicely, it’s at all times you get that sort of inspiration for any group you watch on TV and people small totals when the group defend that, it offers you plenty of issues to be taught from, and the best way Nepal carried out in the entire competitors was pleasing to see.”
“They’ve performed nice cricket towards all the edges. And that’s what T20 is all about. It is advisable to have that sort of self-belief that we’re able to beating any facet as lengthy we do the suitable factor on the proper time, and we’re ensuring we maintain the factor easy,” Rashid stated.
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There was a second throughout the recreation towards Bangladesh when Gulbadin Naib dramatically fell on his again, clutching his thigh after Trott signalled his gamers to gradual issues down.
However minutes later, not solely was the all-rounder again on the sector, however he additionally went on to take Tanzim Hasan’s wicket, inflicting a number of former gamers and commentators to query the genuineness of his discomfort.
However Rashid sought to minimize the incident.
“Nicely, he had some cramps. I don’t know what occurred to him and don’t know what’s occurring in social media, however that doesn’t matter, and it’s simply an end-field damage which comes. We haven’t misplaced any overs, the rain got here, and we simply went off. It’s not one thing that introduced an enormous distinction within the recreation.
“We got here again on the sector after 5 minutes, and there was no large distinction. For me, it’s identical to a small damage is available in, then it’s a must to take a while.”