Afghanistan cricket team captain Rashid Khan hailed legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara for his faith in the team, after their dramatic win against Bangladesh secured a historic semi-final spot in the T20 World Cup.
Afghanistan in semis
This is the first time Afghanistan has reached the knockout stages of the senior men’s Cricket World Cup, a testament to their remarkable growth in the sport. Khan expressed his happiness and credited Lara’s pre-tournament prediction for motivating the team.
“The only guy who put us in the semi-finals was Brian Lara and we proved him right,” Khan said during the post-match presentation. “When we met him at a welcome party, I told him we won’t let you down.“
Khan also spoke about the team’s strategy and their determination to overcome challenges throughout the tournament. He highlighted the importance of a strong start from the new-ball bowlers and their crucial role in restricting Bangladesh’s batting.
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“In T20s if you get a good start, it helps us in the middle overs,” Khan explained. “They have given great starts to us in the whole competition. It makes it easier for us to go harder at the batsmen. They have delivered, they were very clear in their minds.“
With the win, Afghanistan has sent a wave of excitement across the nation. Khan acknowledged the massive celebrations back home and vowed to continue their impressive run in the tournament.
“It’s a massive celebration back home. It’s a big achievement for us as well,” Khan said. “We have to go into the semis with a very clear mind and make sure we enjoy the occasion.“
Afghanistan’s journey to the semi-finals has been nothing short of inspiring, and they will be looking to continue defying expectations as they take on the next challenge in the prestigious tournament.
