T20 World Cup 2024: Rashid and team created history, celebration in Afghanistan

Rashid Khan and his team have created history in the cricket world. There is an atmosphere of celebration in the whole of Afghanistan. In the T20 World Cup Super Eight stage match, Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 8 wickets by Duckworth Lewis system and entered the semi-finals for the first time. As soon as Naveenul Haque took the wicket of Taskin Ahmed on the fourth ball of the 18th over, the eyes of his teammates and supporters present in the stadium filled with tears.

Cricket pundits could not even imagine this achievement that has moved cricket lovers from the Caribbean to Kabul. This feat was achieved by a team from a country that has suffered political instability and the horrors of war and does not even have its own ground for practice. The tables were turned every moment in this thrilling match but in the end, the victory was in the favour of Rashid Khan’s warriors who with this victory also sent Australia out of the tournament. Now in the semi-finals on June 27, Afghanistan will face South Africa and India will face England. Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers performed brilliantly and stopped Afghanistan at 115 runs for five wickets. Leg spinner Rishad Hussain took three wickets for 26 runs. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was in excellent form, also could not play freely and played 55 balls to score 43 runs. In reply, Afghanistan bowled out Bangladesh for 17. Bangladesh was bowled out for 105 runs in 5 overs. Rashid Khan took four wickets for 23 runs and fast bowler Navinul Haque took four wickets for 26 runs. Liton Das (54 not out) held the fort alone for Bangladesh. The game was halted several times due to rain. Afghanistan has so far won on the strength of its opening pair in batting and bowling and the story was the same today as well. Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran shared a 59-run partnership while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Navinul took wickets with the new ball. Farooqi, used to taking early wickets, sent Tanjid Hasan to the pavilion in the second over itself. After this, Navinul took the valuable wickets of Nazmul Hussain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh’s score was 31 runs for three wickets when the game was halted due to rain. When the game resumed, it had scored 46 runs for three wickets in six overs of the powerplay. In such a situation, Rashid took the ball and took wickets in consecutive overs. By taking two consecutive wickets, he surpassed New Zealand’s Tim Southee to complete 150 wickets in T20 cricket at the fastest pace. Once again, rain interrupted play when Bangladesh was trailing on the basis of the Duckworth Lewis system. In such a situation, Afghanistan’s all-rounder Gulbadin Naib suddenly fell due to cramps, which is being considered a ploy to delay the game. On the other hand, when the game resumed, Liton completed his half-century by hitting a four in square leg. Navinul made his fans from Caribbean soil to Kabul celebrate by sending Bangladesh’s ninth and tenth number batsmen to the pavilion. Earlier, Afghanistan players were not able to play freely while batting. Bangladesh got success in the 11th over when Jadran (18 runs in 29 balls) lost his wicket to Hussain’s ball. Taking full advantage of the help received from the wicket, Bangladesh bowlers did not let the run rate increase. Taskin Ahmed bowled a maiden over to Gurbaz after which Shakib Al Hasan gave only three runs in the next over. Gurbaz scored 13 runs including two fours in the 14th over. Mustafizur Rahman and Hussain took three wickets in ten balls and ruined Afghanistan’s plans of making a big score. Captain Rashid hit two sixes in the last over to take the team past 100 runs.