Spirited Afghanistan slay yet another ex-champs

THE last time Afghanistan and Sri Lanka faced each other in the ODIS, it was an electrifying environment at the Gaddafi Stadium. The match went down the wire, as Sri Lanka came on top by just two runs in front of the neutral but passionate crowds in Lahore.

- KALYANI MANGALE

The confusion about the Net Run Rate that prevented Afghanistan from making it to the Super Four was the talk of the town and the dejected faces of the Afghan players told the heartbreaking story. Exactly a month from that day, a new challenge was waiting for both teams in India as the 2023 World Cup began in Ahmedabad.

A lot has changed since then, Afghanistan before their fixture against Sri Lanka in Pune had four points on the board, an unbelievable result for a team that could not win a single match in the previous edition. Their Team Mentor and former India International Ajay Jadeja believes it is no secret how talented this group of players really is. "I don't have to make them believe that they are equals.

They believe in themselves. The IPL auction tells them how good they are," Jadeja told reporters in Delhi ahead of Afghanistan's match against India.