Afghanistan Team. (Photo Source: ICC)
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that the Afghanistan team is well-equipped to win the ongoing T20 World Cup. The Rashid Khan-led side has won three matches on the trot and has already qualified for the Super 8 by playing an aggressive brand of cricket. With the bat, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran have done well while Fazalhaq Farooqi has been spectacular with the ball, picking up 12 wickets in three matches.
Kaif noted that Afghanistan are in good form and will be a tough team to beat in the given conditions. He explained that the team spent over two to three weeks in the West Indies and has an idea of the surface, which will help them in the remaining matches.
“Afghanistan are in good form. Their bowling is in form, where Fazalhaq Farooqi has even picked up a five-wicket haul and Rashid Khan is in form. If we talk about the two openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, they are in great form. Afghanistan are top contenders to win the World Cup in these conditions,” Kaif said on Star Sports.
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“They are playing all their matches here (in the West Indies). They didn’t go to the USA at all. Spending two or three weeks there, they exactly know how to bowl and bat on which pitch. They have got an idea of the conditions and their players have form,” the 43-year-old added.
Afghanistan will play their final league game against West Indies on June 17. The winner of that match will finish as the group leader while the other will finish second.
Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition: Rashid Khan
Skipper Rashid was elated with Afghanistan’s brilliant win over Papua New Guinea in the last match. After the game, the 25-year-old stated that his players can adjust to any condition and gave credit to franchise cricket for their development in the shortest format.
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“We had a domestic competition before coming here and everyone are in form. That is the beauty of playing of franchise cricket as you know the conditions, some of them have played at St Lucia and know how the pitch will play which will help others. Everyone has the skill to adjust to any condition and hopefully, we will win that game (against WI) as well,” Rashid said in the post-match presentation.