Since making its mark in international cricket, the Afghanistan cricket team has made huge progress. The Kabul-based team got its ICC status was back in the year 2001, and two years later, it became a member of the Asian cricket council (ACC). Subsequently, bagged ICC status. Now, they are in ICC World Cup 2019 and gets the backing from Anil Kumble.
Afghanistan’s progress majorly depends on Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who were the star performers for their respective franchises in the 2019 Indian Premier League. Ahead of the World Cup, the ACB took a controversial step; it changed its long-term captain, Asghar Afghan, and replaced him by Gulbadin Naib.
They should put runs for the spinners – Anil Kumble
Speaking of the team, Anil Kumble quoted that Afghanistan got the potential to surprise many teams in the ICC World Cup 2019. He feels that they have got the combinations, who can give a scare to the best teams in the event.
”In Asia Cup, they were the second-best team. They gave a scare to the teams in the tournament. The team has been helped by a few of their players, who are travelling across the world. Rashid Khan is a hero. Nabi can bat and bowl. Mujeeb has been brilliant as well. They also got few other players,” Anil Kumble said to News 18.
Further, he went on to add saying that Afghanistan needs to work on their batting skills. With the lineup being only 6-7 batsmen, Anil thinks that the top-order needs to build the innings rather than going for the attacking strokeplay.
”For me, they will certainly give a scare to a few teams in the tournament. There best plan will be put runs on the board and hope the spinners and bowlers do the job for the team. Afghanistan needs to structure its innings rather than going for the attacking game,” Anil Kumble added.
Well, as Anil Kumble said, Afghanistan certainly got the team to make things fall in place. It would be interesting to see whether they can upset any big team, who are being tagged as the favourites to win the major event.
Afghanistan World Cup squad:
Gulbadin Naib (captain), Rashid Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, and Mujeeb ur Rahman