Afghanistan side’s future clouded but not its prowess
SHARJAH: Afghanistan appeared unperturbed by its uncertain future in international cricket as Mohammad Nabi’s men dished out a 130run shellacking to Scotland in group 2 at the Twenty20 World Cup yesterday.
The governing International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet next month to determine the game’s future in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
Cricket Australia has already threatened to scrap next month’s oneoff test against Afghanistan if the government in Kabul does not allow women to play the sport.
None of that controversy seemed to affect Afghanistan as its muscular top order fired it to an imposing 190 for four in its opening Super 12 stage match.
Spin duo Mujeeb Ur Rahman (five for 20) and Rashid Khan (four for nine) then combined to demolish Scotland for 60 in 10.2 overs to maintain Afghanistan’s 100% victory record against it in this format.
‘‘This was our plan, to bat first and put a big score,’’ Nabi said after his country’s biggest twenty20 victory in terms of runs.
‘‘Everyone knows Rashid and Mujeeb are among the best in the world.
‘‘It’s a really nice team and hopefully we’ll keep winning.''
The Afghan openers vindicated Nabi’s decision to bat first after winning the toss at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Hazratullah Zazai, who made 44, and Mohammad Shahzad (22) got it off to a flyer with a 54run stand and Afghanistan’s batsmen never took their foot off the pedal after that.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz blasted four sixes in his 46 but, like Zazai, fell short of his halfcentury.
Najibullah Zadran could not be denied his 50 though and the lefthander smashed 59 before falling to the final delivery of the innings.
Afghanistan’s batsmen smashed a combined 11 sixes, several landing on the roof of the stadium, much to the delight of the smattering of Afghan fans in the stands.
‘‘We have been playing some good cricket to get here, but sometimes things don’t go to plan,’’ Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer said after the thumping.
‘‘We fought hard in the field. It’s just a level check to see where our standards are.
‘‘We’ll be better for it in the next game.’’ — Reuters