ICC T20 World Cup 2021: Taliban hail Afghanistan win

Hazratullah
Zazai
(44),
Rahmanullah
Gurbaz
(46)
and
Najibullah
Zadran
(59)
propelled
Afghanistan
to
a
total
of
190
for
four
that
always
looked
well
beyond
Scotland.

No
wonder
they
quickly
wilted
in
the
face
of
a
mammoth
chase
at
Sharjah.

T20
World
Cup:
Afghanistan
crush
Scotland
in
Super
12
rout

Mujeeb
Ur
Rahman
took
career-best
figures
of
5-20
and
Rashid
Khan
claimed
4-9
to
bowl
Scotland
out
for
just
60.

The
victory
sees
Afghanistan
surge
to
the
top
of
Group
2
at
this
early
stage.

1

51680

After
the
win,
Taliban
spokesperson
Suhail
Shaheen
send
a
congratulatory
message,
“Congratulation
to
all
Afghan
cricket
team
and
the
entire
Afghan
nation
for
the
historical
win
against
Scotland.
Well
done
boys!
May
Allah
favour
you
with
future
victories”.

While
the
Taliban
frown
on
many
forms
of
public
entertainment,
cricket
has
always
been
an
exception,
a
game
the
fighters
followed
closely
even
during
the
war
whenever
the
national
team
was
playing.

However,
there
was
relative
silence
across
Kabul,
where
such
victories
were
previously
met
with
jubilationn
in
the
streets,
fireworks
and
celebratory
gunfire.
There
were
only
a
few,
small
fireworks
seen
in
the
Kabul
sky.

The
streets
were
mostly
empty
or
silent.

T20
WORLD
CUP
FIXTURES/RESULTS
|

POINTS
TABLE

Afghanistan
next
take
on
Pakistan
on
Friday
(October
29)
at
the
Dubai
International
Cricket
Stadium.

The
Afghans
were
clinical
in
their
win
against
Scotland.

Scotland
were
swiftly
on
the
back
foot
as
Afghanistan
piled
on
55
runs
for
the
loss
of
just
one
wicket
in
the
powerplay
and
Mohammad
Nabi’s
side
did
not
let
up.

Zazai
and
Zadran
each
cleared
the
rope
three
times
and
Gurbaz
hit
four
sixes,
the
stand
of
87
between
the
latter
duo
pivotal
in
Afghanistan
posting
their
highest
T20
World
Cup
score.

Scotland
in
a
spin
Scotland’s
highest
successful
chase
is
181
but
they
saw
a
promising
early
start
fade
badly
as
Afghanistan’s
spinners
took
hold.

George
Munsey
(25),
captain
Kyle
Coetzer
(10)
and
Chris
Greaves
(12)
were
the
only
players
to
reach
double
figures
as
Mujeeb
and
Rashid
ripped
through
the
line-up.

T20
World
Cup
2021,
Group
2,
Afghanistan
vs
Scotland:
Teams
look
to
open
campaign
with
win

Afghanistan
had
found
finds
itself
in
turmoil
after
the
Taliban
takeover
of
the
country
in
August.

The
cricketers
could
not
get
much
practice
due
to
the
situation
at
home
and
there
was
also
a
controversy
over
team
selection
with
star
spinner
Rashid
Khan
stepping
down
soon
after
the
squad
was
announced.

Afghanistan
Squad
for
T20
World
Cup
2021:
Rashid
Khan
steps
down
from
captaincy
after
squad
announcement

Few
last
minute
changes
were
made
and
veteran
all-rounder
Nabi
was
back
to
lead
the
team.

Notwithstanding
their
controversial
build-up,
Afghanistan
had
shown
what
they
are
capable
of
in
the
two-warm
ups
that
they
played
in
the
lead
up
to
the
tournament.

They
lost
to
South
Africa
before
wrapping
up
their
preparations
with
a
win
over
defending
champions
West
Indies.

And
on
Monday
they
continued
that
form
into
the
Super
12’s
with
a
resounding
win
against
Scotland.

(With
inputs
from
Agencies)