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Coming into the 2019 ICC World Cup, there was a general feeling that Afghanistan might pull off a few surprises. But halfway through the event, they've struggled to make any real impact. With five consecutive heavy defeats under their belt, the prospect of a victory is starting to look unlikely.ICC World Cup 2019. However, we are midway into the tournament and Afghanistan are yet to even put up a proper fight. Winning seems to be a distant dream for them now. They have played five matches so far and have lost all five of them, that too by big margins.
Their upcoming clash with India is shaping up to be another uphill battle. That said, the Afghan squad can look back at the 2018 Asia Cup for motivation, where a few standout individual efforts helped them secure a dramatic tie against the Indians. Here are the players from the Afghan camp who could potentially cause problems for India this Saturday.
Hashmatullah Shahidi: He stands out as the only Afghan batter who has looked comfortable against the world's top-tier bowling attacks. Having scored 165 runs at an average of 33, he's already proven his grit with tough half-centuries (59 and 76) against the likes of England and New Zealand. As a left-hander who handles spin well, he could be a tricky matchup for Yuzvendra Chahal. If Afghanistan bats first and Shahidi anchors the innings with another big score, they could actually post a competitive total.Hashmatullah Shahidi: He has been the only Afghan batsman who has shown the temperament to tackle some of the best bowlers in the tournament. He has a total of 165 runs so far in the competition at a decent average of 33 and those runs include two gritty knocks of 59 and 76 against strong bowling units like New Zealand and England as well. The left-hander is pretty strong against spinners and will have an advantage while facing the Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the next match. Afghanistan will have a good chance of putting up a fighting total on the board if they bat first and Shahidi goes on to play yet another big knock.
Gulbadin Naib: The captain has been a vital dual-threat for his side, sharing the top spot for wickets with five and ranking as their third-highest run-scorer with 100 runs. His performance against England—taking three wickets and hitting a brisk 37 at the top—showed he's in a fighting mood, and he'll be looking to carry that momentum into the game against India.Gulbadin Naib: The Afghan skipper is the joint highest wicket-taker for his team with 5 wickets to his name in an equal number of matches. Moreover, he is the third highest scorer for his team with 100 runs under his belt as well. He picked up three wickets against England and also played an aggressive knock of 37 runs at the top of the order. This kind of individual performance has certainly boosted his confidence and he would be eager to do even better against India.
Rashid Khan: It's been a rough tournament for Rashid so far, highlighted by a difficult spell against England where he let 110 runs slip in nine overs. His overall numbers—three wickets at a costly average of 74.66—aren't where he wants them to be. However, he knows how to beat India, having played a pivotal role in their previous tie with a tight spell of 2 for 41. Tapping into that confidence will be key for him to rediscover his form.Rashid Khan: Rashid Khan had a forgettable outing against England as he conceded a total of 110 runs in his nine overs. His statistics in the tournament so far—three wickets at an average of 74.66 and economy rate of 7.03—doesn’t make for a good reading too. However, he was the one who helped Afghanistan to tie their previous encounter against India with a brilliant bowling spell of 9.5-0-41-2. That is his only source of confidence as of now and he should focus on this memory to bring out the best out of him in the next match.
Mohammad Nabi: After a stellar four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, the all-rounder has gone relatively quiet. He's practically overdue for a breakthrough performance. India would be wise to have a specific plan for him; in their last ODI meeting, Nabi was a menace, smashing 64 off 56 balls and taking two wickets for 40 runs. He was a cornerstone of that tied result, making him a dangerous player to underestimate.Mohammad Nabi: The Afghan all-rounder has been silent after his brilliant spell of 9-0-30-4 against Sri Lanka. He hasn’t done anything of note since then and hence, he is due for a big performance. India should keep plans ready for him because the last time they met in an ODI, Nabi plundered 64 runs off 56 deliveries with the bat and later registered superb bowling figures of 10-0-40-2 as well. Afghanistan, as mentioned before, went on to tie that match with India and it wouldn’t have been possible without such a brilliant performance by Nabi.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey