Afghanistan Cricket team wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad has issued a warning to other teams that they are going to the ICC World Cup with all guns prepared. Also, Shahzad added that they are keen to add to their tally of a lone win in the pinnacle event.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan surprised one and sundry after qualifying for the World Cup in 2015. Although they went out from the tournament from the group stages itself winning only one game, but have only grown in strengths in the last few years. They won the qualifiers last year to seal a berth in this year’s event in the United Kingdom.
We will try to give our best
Afghanistan goes into the tournament with a perfect blend of experienced cricketers, promising youngsters, world-class spinners and a pace battery on the rise. These many strengths make them one of the dark horses in the competition. However, it is the spin department they will rely on the most. The trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi claimed 16 wickets in the last series against Ireland. They also boast Zahir Khan who made his debut in the last ODI against Ireland. Mohammad Shahzad pointed out that they are eyeing to beat four-five teams when the tournament begins in May.
“We could beat just one team, Scotland, in the 2015 World Cup,” Shahzad pointed out. “This time we are better prepared with spinners like Mujeeb, Rashid, Nabi and Zahir Khan in our ranks. We are trying our best to perform better in the 2019 World Cup and beat four-five teams in the competition,” he added.
But it’s not just the spinners who can wreak havoc. Fast bowlers such as Shapoor Zadran, Fareed Malik, Sayed Shirzad and Aftab Alam add a lot of pedigree to their line-up. The emergence of pacers has not only enhanced their threat but also helped the batsmen get attuned to quality seam-bowling.