Lucknow, Nov 2: They have outlived tags like ‘minnows’ and ‘giant-killers’ with their lion-hearted performances but spirited Afghanistan’s quest to reach the next level starts in earnest against an equally inspirational Netherlands in a World Cup match between the two teams here on Friday.
Starting as favourites on a tricky Ekana Stadium surface, with a quality spin attack at its disposal, Afghanistan (6 points) will not only look to secure two points against the Dutch (4 points) but also aim to win big and improve the net run-rate in its bid to remain relevant in the race to semi-final.
The manner in which Afghanistan’s top-order batted to outclass sides like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, it showed that the victory against defending champions England wasn’t a mere flash in the pan.
Ashes-winning English batter Jonathon Trott was a gritty customer during his playing days and he has instilled the same doggedness in his wards too, as they have made the heads with their methodical approach and praiseworthy resilience.
Just like Kenya, with a bit of luck, made it to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, Afghans will hope that the rub of the green goes their way, beginning with the Dutch test.
After this game, they take on Australia (November 7) and South Africa (November 10) in what would determine whether they have it in them to go to the next level — the World Cup semifinals. One defeat and it all comes crashing down.
The ‘Orange Army’, too have been a surprise package of this World Cup, securing well deserved wins over South Africa and Bangladesh.
It has put them ahead of Bangladesh and bottom-rung England in the 10-team standings to keep a slender semifinal qualification hopes alive although even their biggest supporters know that it would be miraculous if they happen to make it to final four.
On six points each, Pakistan and Afghanistan are two other teams outside top-four who are very much in the mix of a last-four berth.
But Afghanistan with a much-inferior net run-rate (-0.718) compared to Pakistan (-0.024) would mean that the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side have a lot of catching up to do.
The bowling has always been their strength but their biggest turnaround this time has been their batting which has clicked as a collective unit, something that came to fore in their clinical chases of 283 (vs Pakistan) and 242 (Sri Lanka) in their last two outings.
While skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (226) and Azmatullah Omarzai (203) have the rock in the middle, the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (224), Rahmat Shah (212), Ibrahim Zardan (212) and Ikram Akhil (77 in 2 games) have also shouldered a lot of responsibility. (PTI)
