In the 2019 World Cup in England, Afghanistan lost all their 9 league matches. However, they came close to defeating both India and Pakistan as both games went into the last over. Had Afghanistan managed to cross the line in the last over of both games, they would have been two of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Here’s how Afghanistan can be big upset in World Cup 2023
Not having the proper experience of playing in English conditions and temperament hurt them in those matches. But the fact that they came close to consigning defeats to two giants of world cricket was applauded by all.
From there, Afghanistan cricket has only risen upward. They qualified for the Super 12 of the last two T20 World Cups without having to play in the Qualifiers preceding the tournament. Afghanistan also was one of the 8 teams to have secured its place directly in the World Cup 2023 main round, something which the likes of Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and West Indies failed to do so and they had to play the Qualifiers. Zimbabwe, despite playing at home, and West Indies didn’t even manage to make it to the 10-team tournament in India in October.
This shows the success of the Afghanistan team. In the interim, they have defeated a second-string Pakistan team in a T20I series and also defeated a strong Bangladesh unit in their own den in an ODI series.
It is certain that no team in the World Cup 2023 will be taking Afghanistan lightly. Fans are also expecting a couple of major upsets in the tournament from Afghanistan, something which would spoil the party.
Here are 2 reasons why Afghanistan can cause a couple of major upsets in World Cup 2023:
Spinners would play in helpful conditions in India
Afghanistan’s strength is their spin attack of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad. Given the conditions that suit their strength, on their day, Afghanistan have the talent, ability, and the might to defeat any of the bigger teams.
The World Cup 2023 in India gives Afghanistan the best chance to defeat a couple of bigger teams.
Afghanistan will be playing India and England in Delhi, Pakistan and New Zealand in Chennai, and the Netherlands in Lucknow. These three venues have three of the most spin-friendly pitches in India. If their batters can hold their own, Afghanistan can topple one or two of these teams on the spin-friendly pitches. They recently bowled out Pakistan for 201 on a spinning surface in Hambantota.
And though the Pakistani bowlers won the game by a big margin, Afghanistan seriously gave Pakistan and their fans a big scare.
The Afghanistan spinners bowling attack has the experience of playing in the IPL on these pitches, so it wouldn’t be something new for them.
A good mix of youthful exuberance and experience
Over the past few years, Afghanistan have came close to defeating teams like India – in 2018 Asia Cup and 2019 WC – and Pakistan – in 2019 WC and 2022 Asia Cup – but have faltered in the last phase of the game due to their weak temperament and mistakes.
The experienced players in the side – like Nabi, Rashid, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Gulbadin Naib – would have taken learnings from those losses, and will come better prepared this time. They have the aggression of youngsters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb, Ibrahim Zadran, Naveen, Farooqi – Afghanistan team is filled with youngsters who have done well in T20 cricket around the world and for their national team.
This blend of experience and youth in the Afghanistan unit makes them a seriously good outfit that, on its day, have the capacity to take down any team in the world.
