Afghanistan is on a historic mission at the 50-over World Cup in India, and their remarkable eight-wicket triumph over former champions Pakistan on Monday vividly embodies this aspiration, according to their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Entering the match as the bottom-ranked team in the tournament, Afghanistan had previously secured just one victory, a seismic upset against defending champions England. However, their victory against Pakistan was no fluke, as the top order orchestrated a clinical chase.
Shahidi expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, “This win tastes nice. The way we chased was very professional, and it will bolster our confidence for the upcoming matches.”
With no signs of nerves, Afghanistan methodically pursued a 283-run target, securing their victory with an over to spare. Shahidi had emphasized their belief from the outset, saying, “We always had belief, and at the start of the tournament, I told my team I wanted to make it a historic one for our country and our people. We did that against England and now today against Pakistan. We are looking forward to playing positive cricket in our next games.”
Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 87, and Rahmat Shah, unbeaten at 77, were instrumental in the chase, battling cramps along the way. Shahidi was also impressed by the teenage spinner Noor Ahmad, who made a dream World Cup debut with figures of 3/49.
“Our bowling was very good, especially our spinners. We gave Noor a chance and trusted his talent.”
Zadran, who formed a 130-run opening partnership with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65), attributed his success to a positive approach. He said, “In this kind of big event, this is so big for me. I’m feeling very proud of myself and for my country. Gurbaz and I have put on a lot of good partnerships together. We have played together since we were 16, so we always have good communication.”
Post Your Comments