Afghanistan’s skipper, Rashid Khan, is upbeat about his team’s prospects in the current T20 World Cup 2024. In the past year, their batting unit has made great progress, according to the star player, and they now possess the ability to chase 200 runs under all circumstances. Rashid revealed before their first match against Uganda that they had brought in players from the U19 squad, which contributed to their success in the shortest format.
In response, Rashid said that while batting used to be a problem for them, the team is now prepared for the task. The 25-year-old continued, “The kids played a lot of franchise cricket after getting an opportunity in the national team, which helped them gain experience and be better players.” He believes their experience will be useful in the international competition.
We were having some trouble in the hitting zone earlier. Our bowlers used to put in a lot more effort and help us win games. Later on, we had those young batters, particularly from the Under-19 cricket team. Their ascent to the national team and their diligent work paid off, as they were given the chance to represent Afghanistan at a very young age and went on to play in leagues across the globe as their skill level increased, Rashid said, citing ESPNcricinfo.
We are talented, equipped, and willing to pursue 200: Rashid Khan
According to the Afghan commander, players’ attitudes have improved recently, and they are more motivated ahead of the major competition. In the shortest version, he said that Afghan batters possess the potential, ability, and skill to chase large totals and that everything is possible with the correct mindset. Earlier in the tournament, Rashid noted, cricket commentators never really took Afghanistan seriously; but, this time, they have named them as one of the favourites to make it to the semi-final.
“I believe we have the batting lineup where we can declare that a 200-run target is acceptable if it is reached on a wicket. We possess the kind of aptitude, competence, and ability to express and pursue that on the ground. In Twenty20 cricket, mentality is everything. Anything is feasible if you have the correct attitude and believe that we can accomplish it, stated Rashid.
Also read: AFG vs UGA T20 World Cup 2024: Match 5 Preview
Yes, there have been a few mentions that Afghanistan will be present for the semifinals. That’s quite encouraging to us. It used to be difficult for us to even get in before. Furthermore, I believe it’s a huge deal for us to be nominated to be among the top four,” he continued.
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