Kingstown: Afghanistan’s skipper Rashid Khan praised his team for a significant victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, describing the win as a pivotal moment absent in recent years. He attributed the success to the team’s depth in all-rounders.
Afghanistan secured a historic 21-run victory over Australia in their crucial Super Eight match, revitalizing their chances of advancing to the semifinals.
“It’s a massive win for us as a team and for our nation. It’s a feeling we’ve missed over the past two years. I’m truly delighted with the victory and immensely proud of the team,” Rashid remarked during the post-match presentation.
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (60) and Ibrahim Zadran (51) provided strong starts, guiding Afghanistan to 148 for 6, despite Australia’s effective bowling.
All-rounder Gulabdin Naib delivered a career-best performance, claiming 4/20 to dismiss Australia for 127 in 19.2 overs.
“A score of 140 was competitive on this pitch. Although we could have finished stronger, our opening partnership set a solid foundation. With our depth in all-rounders, we had the belief that anything above 130 could be defended,” Rashid added.
Rashid also praised Naib’s contribution, stating, “Gulbadin’s experience showed today, especially with his bowling. Mohammad Nabi’s early breakthrough, dismissing Warner, was crucial as well.”
Acknowledging the significance of the win for Afghanistan, Rashid said, “This victory is monumental for us back home and globally. I’m confident our fans are proud and enjoyed the match.”
Player of the Match Gulabdin Naib expressed his joy over the long-awaited victory, hoping it marks a new chapter for Afghan cricket.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a while. It’s a great achievement for Afghanistan cricket and our history. I’m thankful to our fans for their unwavering support throughout our journey,” Naib said.
Reflecting on the team’s recent performances, Naib added, “We played exceptionally well in the last World Cup and defeated New Zealand earlier in this tournament. This victory signifies the beginning of a new phase for us. We have a fantastic management team, and I feel fortunate to be part of this squad. Every match counts, and we will focus on our next game after a day’s rest.”
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh attributed the loss to an off day but remained optimistic about their prospects in the tournament.
“They probably scored 20 runs more than we would have liked. Many teams have opted to bowl first in this tournament. The toss didn’t decide the outcome; we were simply outplayed today. We need to regroup and focus on winning our next match,” Marsh commented.
