Following a glorious victory against Pakistan, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed his team’s ambitions for further success in the ongoing ODI World Cup campaign. In a remarkable turn of events, Afghanistan secured their second surprise victory in the tournament, marking their first-ever win over Pakistan in 50-over cricket.
Their performance in the field, characterized by dazzling all-round play, propelled Afghanistan to a resounding eight-wicket win on a challenging Chennai pitch. The opening partnership of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (65) and Ibrahim Zadran (87), supported by Rahmat Shah (77*) at No.3, played pivotal roles in Afghanistan’s historic victory, chasing a target of 283.
Addressing the post-match presentation, Shahidi commended his team’s professional approach to achieving the target. He says, ‘A win against Pakistan tastes nice’ and expresses their readiness to replicate similar successes in future matches, emphasizing their belief in the quality and style of cricket they have displayed in recent years.
Afghanistan’s impressive wins against cricketing powerhouses, including England and Pakistan, have catapulted them to sixth place on the points table. Shahidi stated that their goal at the start of the tournament was to make history for their country and bring joy to their fellow Afghans.
He also highlighted the outstanding performance of 18-year-old spinner Noor Ahmad, who played a pivotal role with three wickets. Shahidi praised their opening batsmen, Gurbaz and Ibrahim, for providing a strong start, setting the tone for a controlled chase that ultimately resulted in victory.
The Afghan team’s next match is against Sri Lanka on October 30 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. They aim to continue their positive and joyful cricket in the World Cup.
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