Shortly after Afghanistan’s thrilling win against Australia in their T20 World Cup match, captain Rashid Khan compared Sunday’s game to the one against the same team seven months ago during the ODI World Cup in India.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, Rashid compared the contrasting moods of the two games and how the defeat in Mumbai had shaken him up.

“I think I can sleep better now. But that [Mumbai] was a night which didn’t let me sleep,” said Rashid.

The team had come very close to a similar result last year but a freak knock of the highest order from Glenn Maxwell denied them a win at the time.

This time around, it was a very different story and Rashid’s men held their nerve to thump Australia.

“The game [in India] kept coming into my mind. It was 90 plus percent we were in the game and Maxi, the way he played that night, took the game away from us. I didn’t sleep the whole night and I feel like tonight because of the happiness I won’t be able to sleep. That’s how happy the whole team and the whole country.

“And it’s a massive win for us as a team, as a nation. It’s not just like a bilateral game. It’s a World Cup game, and definitely in a World Cup, you’re beating the best side.

“It’s a great achievement. And they were the winners of 2021 World Cup. So, beating a team like that, I think it always gives you so much energy and doesn’t let you sleep as well,” he said.

With a challenging target of 149 on a dry spinning surface, Australia were up against it from the moment they lost Travis Head in the first over of the chase.

They needed a fast start to ensure that they didn’t need to take too many risks off Afghanistan’s potent spin attack but that wasn’t to be.

However, Maxwell appeared to bat on a different surface as his unconventional methods disrupted the bowlers even as wickets fell around him.

Cricbuzz reports that the difference between the Wankhede defeat and this game was the way in which Afghanistan’s bowlers managed to hold their composure when under pressure and Rashid credited bowling coach Dwayne Bravo, who was constantly seen at the boundary rope, chatting to the Afghanistan players.

“Well, I think we as a team, we have the kind of batters, the bowlers where they always need that reminder,” Rashid said.

“Sometimes they forget the things what we discuss in the meeting. [When the] coach is here and he’s looking at me, he knows as well, especially in the batting department. Whenever we forget some things we discuss in the meeting, coach is there, head coach, he keeps reminding them. And that’s something which for a side like this, you need to have those people who remind the things to you.

“And same with DJ (Bravo); the bowlers sometimes in the heat of the moment of the game, they forget the things what we planned for specific batsman and DJ is always there to remind them what we had planned and what we are doing.

“So that’s the kind of discussion we always have and I feel there are some players who need reminders, some players they have things in their mind and experience. So, our side, once they are well guided, I think they know where to go and how to deliver,” Rashid said.

Afghanistan also didn’t shy away from getting on Australia’s nerves on the field, with wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz giving a heavy dosage of comments to Marcus Stoinis. Rashid felt that such characters were crucial for a team to maintain a high level of intensity, especially during testing times.

“Well, some guys in the team, they need that kind of fire. Once they keep silent, they forget how good they are and they need the kind of fire up in the middle. And to be honest, in this game, most happiest thing I have seen was the running between the wickets between Ibrahim and Gurbaz. And it all came from those sledging, I feel.

“They had that kind of conversation. While watching from outside, I felt like they had the competition with the fielders. I’m going to take two runs, I’m going to take one run and things like that. So, what happened with that is it kept them involved in the game, and they focused on scoring runs,” Rashid said.

“I think the advantage went to us because we had that perfect 100 run partnership. On a wicket like this, I think it’s always a wicket of 130-140. If you have a good bowling lineup, we have seen a few games before as well.

“So yeah, I think we should keep him [Gurbaz] the same in upcoming games as well… where he gets his own energy but we don’t want him to keep quiet. That’s something some players do need – that fire-up.”

Sunday’s win meanwhile comes after Cricket Australia repeatedly backed out of bilateral cricket with Afghanistan on the grounds of their opposition not having a women’s team.

Rashid alongside Mohammad Nabi had often spoken up about the cancellation of these bilateral series, voicing their strong disapproval over Australia’s stand on the issue, Cricbuzz reported.

However, in his post-match speech Sunday, Rashid chose to play down the sentiment of “revenge”. “Well, we are sportsmen and we love sports. People back home, they love sports.”

Refusing to get drawn in on politics, he went on to say “I don’t know much about these things and I don’t like it as well … my only thing always in mind is I love to play against the big teams. I love to travel all around the world to play and I have received so much so much love from everyone.”

Afghanistan will face Bangladesh on Tuesday in the last of their Super 8 matches.

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