Afghans confident ahead of World Twenty20

When Afghanistan play India in their opening match of the World Twenty20 in the Carribean next month, it would not be just another game for them.

By Jai Prasad V Rai

Published: Mon 19 Apr 2010, 12:32 AM

Last updated: Tue 14 Nov 2023, 3:05 PM

For Afghanistan, who have come from nowhere fighting against all odds to stamp their authority in the game of cricket was no easy task.

Despite being the underdogs in the World Cup, Afghanistan coach felt that the team had the right ingredients to spring a surprise. “The best thing about the boys that I have noticed is they are very positive. They just don’t want to participate in any tournament, but they want to play tough cricket and win. It doesn’t really matter whom they are playing against.”

The Afghanistan team had a brief practice sessions at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium which has been their ‘home’ ground before heading to the West Indies. Recently patron of UAE cricket Abdulrahman Bukhatir had offered Afghanistan to use the facilities in the Sharjah stadium.

Afghanistan play a warm-up match against the West Indies before their first group match. “This is a big advantage for us. There will be huge crowd which very likely will not support us. So far Afghanistan matches had big crowds but most of the times, it was crowds in their favour.

“Now the main test will be when the crowds are against you.

“Being their coach, I can guide them and can teach them how to cope with the pressure and expose them to such situations. Next few weeks will be how to take mental pressure, how to deal with it,” the former Pakistan international said.

When asked if India had an advantage of playing in the IPL before the World Cup, Khan said: “They are quite in practise but at the other hand, I think as a coach, they are not playing as a team now. Each one is playing separately as an individual.

“It will take some time for them to get together as a team. A batsman might be playing very well in an IPL on a certain position, but when it comes to national side, he might not get that position. Same is the case with the bowlers. For them to gel together as a team is not very easy. I always give an example of Real Madrid. They have got all biggest players in the world but they don’t win every tournament.”

“In Twenty 20, cricket, its anybody’s game. There is no big or small teams. Because if a bowler bowls a brilliant four overs and a batsman bats well for five overs, then the game is yours. There is no comeback in Twenty 20. In ODI, big teams have an advantage as if they struggle at one stage they still can make a comeback but in this format, if you are struggling, you are struggling, no matter how big a team you are.”

Afghanistan recently emerged champions to win their first ACC Trophy in Kuwait which has boosted their confidence level. “Kuwait was a booster. They participated in this tournament since they started playing but had never won it. That was a great booster to win the title.

“Some times things might look smaller, but it has a major impact in your life. Because all their life, they were dreaming of winning the ACC trophy but had never won it. Now this year, they have qualified for the World Cup. They even got the ODI status. So they are really happy with their progress.”

About the preparations, the coach said: “We went to Lahore National Cricket Academy. We had a very good camp. Pakistan great bowlers like Waqar Younis and Aquib Javed offered a lot of tips while Ejaz Ahmad, batting coach of Pakistan, too helped the boys. Even Javed Miandad also visited the camp.

“We then played a match against Pakistan A. Lot of senior players like Shoaib Akhtar played in that match. So this was an ideal preparations playing against the best team there.”