Afghanistan are very strong, probably should have won against us in ODI World Cup too: Usman Khawaja

Afghanistan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: ICC)

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja shared his insights on Afghanistan’s stunning win over Australia in T20 World Cup 2024 and the high stakes match against India, which will be played on June 24 at Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.

Speaking about Afghanistan’s historic 21-run triumph against the Kangaroos, Khawaja remarked that Afghanistan’s effort was not a surprise to him, highlighting their strength as a team. “Afghanistan is a very strong team. They probably should have won against us in the last World Cup too,” he said in a media talk at the Prime’s cafe launch in Melbourne,

Khawaja emphasised the critical nature of the upcoming game against India, labelling it as a “do or die” scenario for Australia. He expressed confidence in the team’s process-oriented approach under Mitchell Starc and Andrew McDonald. “It’s very human to be nervous and a little more anxious, but Australia has played very good T20 cricket up until Afghanistan. That’s the beauty of T20 cricket; it just needs one moment to change the whole scenario,” Khawaja noted.

Also read: Gulbadin Naib leads Afghanistan to historic win against Australia in St Vincent

Reflecting on Australia’s loss to Afghanistan, Khawaja urged the team to move past the defeat and focus on the next challenge. He underscored the significance of the match against India, considering both teams to be the best in the world. “We still have a chance, we need to beat India. When the pressure is on in the World Cup, Australia usually comes out on top,” he asserted.

Khawaja also shared his love for T20 cricket, praising its ability to engage a broader community. He observed that the format has attracted more girls and mothers to the sport over the past decade. “You would have never thought USA would be in the Super Eight,” he added, highlighting the growing global reach of T20 cricket.