The Afghanistan cricket team has transformed into a formidable unit, with all three facets of their game falling into perfect harmony. Winning successive games against World Cup champions is a remarkable achievement, silencing the naysayers who hadn’t taken them seriously.
Their captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed pride in the team’s performance after beating Sri Lanka. “I am extremely proud of the way the batters approached the game and feel very content over this victory by seeing how my team performed in all three departments.”
Asked about the confidence gained from their successful chase against Pakistan, Shahidi said: “Yes, that game gave us a lot of confidence that we, as a team, could chase down any target against any opposition. The way we chased today, in my opinion, was very professional, and I am extremely happy about this.”
Shahidi acknowledged the role of the batting coaches and support staff in Afghanistan’s success, emphasizing that there are always people in the background contributing to the team’s cause. He praised the positivity in body language and the hard work. “Before every game, the support staff gives a lot of confidence as well, which makes all the difference.”
The importance of the captain’s performance was undeniable, and Shahidi expressed contentment at his own show. “The captain should lead from the front. I’m trying my very best to do it. I am very happy I finished the game and would like to do the same in the coming games.”
As Shahidi signed off, he extended credit to Rashid Khan, who celebrated his 100th game. In Shahidi’s words, “Rashid Khan is a very special player, and his energetic personality is infectious, which helps the entire team.”
Player of the Match, Fazalhaq Farooqi, deserves special mention. “I am happy I could contribute to the team and help win the game. I tried to swing it, but it wasn’t swinging a lot in the beginning. That’s when I changed plans and looked to hit the stumps.”
Sri Lanka captain, Kusal Mendis, acknowledged that the runs on the board were insufficient. “We were short of runs on this pitch. 300 runs would have been ideal. Playing with the dew in the second innings was difficult, and the ball was coming onto the bat much better later on.”