ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2024: BOWLING-HEAVY AFGHANISTAN OUT TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION

The Afghanistan cricket team would be out to make an impression in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the Caribbean and USA. Afghanistan put up a fighting show in the 50-over World Cup in India last year, and they will try to take a leaf out...

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The Afghanistan cricket team would be out to make an impression in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the Caribbean and USA. Afghanistan put up a fighting show in the 50-over World Cup in India last year, and they will try to take a leaf out of that and put up sturdy performances. Led by Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan side boasts of several key performers in both batting and bowling departments. Several factors will need to come to life if the Afghans are to go out and reach the Super 8s. A few players were seen in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. The experience will prove to be handy. Most importantly, the character of 2024 IPL trophy winner Rahmanullah Gurbaz can push the Afghans. Gurbaz had personal family issues and came back from Afghanistan later on to play match-winning knocks for KKR and help them win the trophy.

Afghanistan made their T20 World Cup debut in 2010 and has enjoyed successive appearances since then. They suffered group-stage exits in 2009, 2012 and 2014. In 2016, they reached the Super 10s. In 2021 and 2022, they made it to the Super 12s. In the 2024 edition, the Afghans are placed in Group C with New Zealand, the West Indies, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda. Can the Afghans trump one of New Zealand or West Indies to reach the Super 8s?

Here, we analyze the Afghanistan squad for the T20 World Cup.

A LOOK AT AFGHANISTAN’S 15-MEMBER SQUAD

SQUAD: Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah

Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik.

RESERVES: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi.