Cricket World Cup 2023: Spin-Heavy Afghanistan Look To Turn Things Around In India

01.10.2023 - 08:11 sports.ndtv.com

Afghanistan will be looking to a spin quartet led by match-winner Rashid Khan to get results on the slow and turning wickets of India at the World Cup.

Rashid is in huge demand for T20 teams around the world as he is the top-ranked bowler in that format and fifth in ODIs. But the Afghans have great spin depth beyond Rashid, with Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad also capable of turning their side to victory.

The lack of a pace attack and inconsistent batting have let down Afghanistan in 50-over cricket, with the team winning just two of their nine games this year.

They also failed to get past the first round in the recent Asia Cup, with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi lamenting a run of poor form. "We have played good cricket in the last couple of years," said Shahidi, whose team won a three-match series in Bangladesh in July. "But from the last four or five games we were struggling." Still, the captain is confident the side can turn the corner in India. "The Asia Cup was a good wake up call.

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Afghanistan's upset win over defending champions England has given the side a new stature and New Zealand would underestimate Hashmatullah Shahidi's side at their own peril when the two sides clash in their World Cup match on Wednesday. While the Kiwis would look to keep their unbeaten run going in the tournament, Afghanistan, who shocked England by 69 runs, would be keen to create another big upset and put their campaign firmly on track in the showpiece event. New Zealand are going great guns in the tournament, having won all three matches so far and are currently placed second on the points table, trailing India on net run rate.

Cricket World Cup 2023: First Time In 48 Years! England Achieve Dubious Record With Afghanistan Loss

England achieved the unwanted record of losing to all 11 Test-playing nations at the Cricket World Cup after they were stunned by Afghanistan on Sunday. England are the first team ever to achieve this feat as they were completely outplayed by Afghanistan in the Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter in New Delhi. In the first two editions of the tournament, England lost to Australia in 1975 and then to West Indies in the 1979 final. In 1983 and 1987, they suffered losses at the hands of India and Pakistan respectively. In 1983, they were also defeated by New Zealand in a shock result.

Rashid Khan Pays Tribute To 'Dilwalon Ki Delhi' After Afghanistan's Historic Win Over England In Cricket World Cup 2023

Afghanistan clinched a stunning 69-run win against England in the 13th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. Following Afghanistan's thrilling win, Rashid Khan took to his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account and praised the crowd in Delhi. He also thanked the fans at the stadium and all over the world for supporting the team. "Delhi sach mein dil walon ki hai. A huge thank you to all the fans at the stadium who supported us and kept us going throughout the game. And to all our supporters around the world thank you for your love," Rashid Khan wrote on X.

'Proud Moment To Beat The Champions': Rashid Khan After Afghanistan's Historic Win Over England In Cricket World Cup 2023

Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan on Sunday hoped their stunning 69-run win over England in the World Cup will put a smile on the faces of his countrymen and heal their pain following a series of devastating earthquakes. Afghanistan on Sunday created one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, shocking defending champions England. "This is a big win for us. This kind of performance gives us the belief that we can beat any side on any day. It will give us the energy for the rest of the World Cup," Rashid Khan told the broadcasters after Afghanistan bowled England out for 215 after posting 284 all out.