ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024: Afghanistan crew preview | ICC Males’s T20 World Cup Information

Captain: Rashid Khan
Fixtures: Uganda (June 4), New Zealand (June 8), Papua New Guinea (June 14), West Indies (June 18)
Finest end at T20 World Cup: Tremendous Eight.

Afghanistan enter the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as one of many darkish horses poised to trigger an upset and put their fearless model of cricket on present, in line with their former coach Stuart Regulation.

The 2010 debutants have reached the Tremendous Eight stage in every of the final three editions of the event – regular progress from the first-round exits of their first three makes an attempt.

Regulation believes Afghanistan aren’t removed from reaching the knockouts and it may occur within the 2024 version of the event in the USA and the West Indies in June.

“I like the best way they play their cricket. There’s no concern in the best way they go about it,” Regulation, who’s now accountable for the USA crew, instructed Al Jazeera.

“They’re at all times aggressive, at all times attacking. I haven’t seen too many defensive gamers and the defensive gamers don’t appear to be thrust into the primary crew rather a lot.

“So they’re very optimistic the best way they go about it.”

Their grit was on show late final yr in India the place they completed sixth, by the barest of margins, behind Pakistan and didn’t qualify for the semifinals regardless of an impressed run within the second half of the round-robin stage.

After solely three appearances on the Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan completed forward of former champions England and Sri Lanka.

This time round, they open their event marketing campaign on June 4 in opposition to debutants Uganda, in a gaggle that additionally consists of New Zealand, co-hosts West Indies and Papa New Guinea.

‘Sturdy and highly effective boys’

Regulation, who coached Afghanistan in 2022, believes the aspect led by Rashid Khan are able to do extra than simply trigger the odd upset.

“They’re all naturally gifted and they’ve stature as nicely – they’re robust and highly effective huge boys,” Regulation stated.

“They simply want that smartness at occasions to get via sure conditions.”

Afghanistan have one of many strongest bowling line-ups, with prime limited-overs spinners Rashid, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad within the aspect, together with the richly skilled all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.

AfghanAtalan are sweating them out as they gear up for the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024. 🤩📸#AfghanAtalan | #T20WorldCup | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/aJ42LJjyMl

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) May 26, 2024

It’s within the batting division that Regulation believes Afghanistan should enhance to maneuver ahead.

“Their batting has improved with a number of the youthful gamers which have are available,” Regulation stated.

The previous Australia participant singled out Ibrahim Zadran as “one of many nicest gamers to look at”.

“He has discovered rather a lot within the final couple of years and is beginning to put collectively some actually optimistic performances in worldwide cricket,” Regulation stated.

“Afghanistan want just a few extra batters that may seize it by the scruff of the neck and drag it ahead with a view to do some harm in huge tournaments.”

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, has proven the pedigree to assist Zadran on the prime of the batting order.

He’ll be part of the Afghan crew after a title-winning stint together with his Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

Captain Rashid himself is a harmful middle-order batter and has helped submit near-match-winning targets on a number of events.

Rashid, Nabi and the opposite “huge boys” must dig a bit deeper to make a push for the knockouts.

Three gamers to look at

Rashid Khan: Arguably their largest star and most necessary participant. For Afghanistan to have an ideal World Cup, Rashid should shine as a bowler, lower-order batter and captain. The wily leg spinner is able to halting the cost of a number of the largest batsmen on this planet.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Rashid’s spin companion and one other deadly weapon in his armoury. Mujeeb’s means to stem the movement of runs within the early a part of the innings and assist his aspect knock over opposition batsmen shall be key in what may very well be spin-friendly pitches within the US and the Caribbean.

Mohammad Nabi: Nabi brings many years of expertise to this Afghanistan aspect that can hope to go one step additional than their final three outings on the T20 World Cup. His tidy off-spin and accountable batting within the center order is usually a calming affect on his younger teammates.