Afghanistan's Cricket World Cup Team Preview

Afghanistan would love to continue their dream in the World Cup and show the world what they are capable of. 

The Afghanistan Cricket team seems like they are perpetually plonked in the middle of a fairy tale. Their story starts back in 2008 when they were placed in Division 5 of the world cricket league,  the lowest position recognised by the ICC. Now, they are one of the top 10 cricketing nations. They have certain superstars who would perfectly fit into this fairy tale. Rashid Khan, the leader of the attack is the number 1 ranked T20i bowler, number 3 ranked ODI bowler and number 2 ranked ODI all-rounder. Their elder statesman, Mohammed Nabi has seen Afghanistan grow to such heights. He himself is the number 3 ranked ODI all-rounder and holds key to Afghanistan performing well at the World Cup. Rashid Khan has already set the goal and desire of the team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. They certainly have the team to do it but will they do it is the biggest question. Just recently in April, their captain, Asghar Afghan was replaced with the inexperienced Gulbadin Naib, a move which was publicly criticised by their Prince Charming, Rashid Khan and their elder statesman, Mohammed Nabi. 

When we look at the Afghanistan team, we talk about their spin trio of Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb. It is quite common that teams rising from the bottom will have a good bowling attack but a weak batting lineup. For Afghanistan that is not the case.  They have one of the most explosive opening pairs in Mohammed Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai. On their day they can tear apart bowling attacks. At number 3, 4 and 5 they have good stability in Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Asghar Afghan. These 3 have the potential to control the innings and have the likes of Nabi, Gulbadin and Rashid to come in the last overs and tonk the ball around. They also have Najibullah Zadran, who may be unknown but is a prolific finisher and has the ability to hit a 20 ball 50 to provide a good finish to Afghanistan. But what the real underbelly is for Afghanistan is their pace department. They have recalled Hamid Hassan, who last played for Afghanistan in the Wt20 World Cup. They have the likes of Dawlat Zadran and Aftab Alam in their pace department, who on their day can be threatening. But any other team looking at their pace attack wouldn’t think of it as a very threatening attack (compared to the pace attack of India, South Africa or Australia). 

Probable xi - 
Mohammed Shahzad(wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammed Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Hamid Hassan, Dawlat Zadran, Mujeeb Zadran

Interesting Facts about the Afghanistan Cricket Team - 

• Afghanistan has played a total of 114 ODI’s, out of which veteran Mohammed Nabi has only missed 2 ODI’S. (played 112 of the 114 ODI’s Afghanistan has played)

• Rashid Khan is the fastest bowler to take 100 wickets in ODI Cricket (44 matches).

•  Hazratullah Zazai is one of the 3 batsmen to hit 6 sixes in an over in a t20 match. (In Afghanistan premier league).

My prediction - 

•   Afghanistan has a very exciting team but it will be difficult for them to finish in the top 4. Although from the bottom of my heart I would love them to play the semi-finals, I don’t see them playing in the semi-finals and I think they will finish mid-table.