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‘I can sleep better now’, says Rashid Khan after Afghanistan’s win over Australia

“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,” Rashid said.

Published

9 months ago

June 23, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

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.

Afghanistan shock New Zealand by 84 runs for first win in history

Related Topics:#Rashidkhan #T20WorldCup Afghanistan ArianaNews Australia Cricket featured

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Cricket Ireland cancels Afghanistan series for ‘financial reasons’

However, in the same statement Cricket Ireland confirmed a line up of action-packed cricket this summer.

Published

5 days ago

March 12, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Ireland’s cricket board announced this week they have cancelled a multi-format series against Afghanistan scheduled for later this year.

Cricket Ireland said in a statement issued on Tuesday that they were cancelling the series due to “financial reasons”.

“One planned series that won’t go ahead for financial reasons is against Afghanistan.

“This decision is part of our management of short-term budgetary constraints, as well as our requirement to comply with the Board’s mandate to deliver balanced investment across the organisation’s strategic objectives,” said Warren Deutrom, Chief Executive of Cricket Ireland.

However, in the same statement Cricket Ireland confirmed a line up of action-packed cricket this summer.

West Indies will play six limited-overs matches in Ireland in May and June before England arrive in September for a three-match Twenty20 series.

In addition, Zimbabwe Women and Pakistan Women will tour Ireland in July and August respectively; and Ireland Women will compete in two ICC World Cup qualifier tournaments.

In addition to this, Ireland Wolves will head to the UAE to play Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A as part of a multi-format tour.

Cricket Ireland added that “further fixtures and tours in 2025 will be announced in due course”.
Deutrom meanwhile said Cricket Ireland will also invest to upgrade infrastructure and facilities across the country.

The Irish government announced last August it would build a stadium at the national sports campus in Blanchardstown, which will also stage matches of the T20 World Cup in 2030, which Ireland will co-host with England and Scotland.

“All in all, on and off the pitch, in time this will be recognised as one of the more consequential years in Irish cricket history,” Deutrom added.

In response to this news, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has clarified that the matches have not been canceled and that efforts are underway to reschedule them at a more suitable time.

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Asian Cup: Afghanistan’s beach soccer team arrives in Thailand

Published

6 days ago

March 11, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Afghanistan’s national beach soccer team arrived in Thailand on Tuesday to participate in a training camp ahead of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025.

Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) said in a post on Facebook that a 10-day training camp has been organized for the national beach soccer team in order for the players to enhance their skills ahead of the tournament.

The Afghan national beach soccer team is placed in Group C of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup 2025 alongside the beach soccer teams of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2025 will kick off on March 20 and run through to March 30. Thailand is the official host.

Sport

India upbeat over Champions Trophy win against New Zealand

The final on Sunday in Dubai will decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Published

1 week ago

March 9, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

India’s Shubman Gill on Saturday said the team will look to win the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand to get over their 2023 ODI World Cup title defeat.

The final on Sunday in Dubai will decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

“I am quite excited,” vice-captain Gill told reporters. “My second ICC event for team India and second final. The last time which we couldn’t do, we will try to do it this time.”

India went down to Australia in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 on home soil in Ahmedabad in a heartbreaking defeat for the team, which had come into the title clash unbeaten, AFP reported.

However, Rohit Sharma’s team eased the heartache of fans a few months later when they lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup title — India’s first victory in a major global event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Gill, who was not part of the T20 triumph, said the ICC title in Barbados allows the team to go into Sunday’s final without any baggage.

“It’s also about once you get one title that kind of breaks the jinx and then it gives you the momentum and also you are not desperate about getting the title,” said Gill.

“Winning the title in 2024 doesn’t mean that we are less hungry, but it kind of gives us more balance that we have won an ICC title and we will try to do our best to win this one.”

India come into the title clash unbeaten in four matches after they went past Australia in the semi-final to eye a third Champions Trophy crown, AFP reported.

India have played all their matches in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to political tensions.

Gill said the importance of a final does come into the equation when they walk out but a champion team knows how to handle pressure.

“The big-match pressure is always there,” said Gill.

“This is the reason why we talk about big teams of previous years, including West Indies and Australia. Those teams played their best cricket in knock-outs. Easier said than done, but good teams play their best cricket under pressure.”

Virat Kohli has been in top form as he hit an unbeaten 100 against arch-rivals Pakistan in a group game and hit 84 in another successful chase in the semi-final.

Rohit has been slammed for not converting his starts into bigger scores, but his quick cameos have nonetheless allowed the team to build totals.

Gill, who opens with Rohit, said India’s batting depth has allowed the top-order to bat freely.

“I think this is the best batting line-up that I have been part of,” said Gill. “Rohit, Virat, I think all-time one-day greats. Rohit one of the best openers in white-ball and Virat one of the best ODI batsman ever,” he said.

Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch the final live and exclusively in the country on Ariana Television. The final gets underway at 1:30pm Kabul time.