TEAM GUIDE – AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan qualified for the 2019 World Cup ahead of Zimbabwe, Ireland, Scotland and other hopefuls. This year will present another opportunity to prove they are not just a solid T20 outfit – and can win in a format that demands sustained periods of performance and pressure.

They have beaten the West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the intermediate format of the international game – and even managed to tie with India. But they have not triumphed over any of the other six countries competing in this year’s global showpiece.

The 2015 World Cup brought a group stage exit after just one win in six attempts. Four years later, though, they’re a more experienced and streetwise unit, capable of outdoing opposition several positions superior in the International Cricket Council’s rankings for ODI teams. They have a new captain in all-rounder Gulbardin Naib and an outgoing coach in West Indian Phil Simmons. Both have tenures to define with positive results in the United Kingdom.

The hard-hitting Rahmat Shah is tipped to lead Afghanistan’s exploits with the bat. He is their highest ranked ODI batsman in 40th position, ahead of South Africa’s JP Duminy, Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik, England’s Moeen Ali and others. Shah showcased plenty of talent with a fine ODI century against Scotland in mid-May 2019 – and was the country’s leading light with a superb 98 and complementary 76 in March’s Test against Ireland. Last year, too, he gathered a steady half-ton in ODI victory over a West Indian bowling attack spearheaded by seamers Kemar Roach and Jason Holder.

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan will almost certainly take the most wickets for Afghanistan in this World Cup. Khan is effectively the face of Afghanistan cricket, having played in domestic T20 tournaments like Australia’s Big Bash League, the Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League around the world. He averages more than two wickets per ODI after a lengthy expanse of 58 – and completed remarkable figures of seven for 18 against the West Indies two years ago.

The seventh match of the tournament, on 4 June in Cardiff, will afford Afghanistan a genuine chance at orchestrating a shock result. The Afghans outdid the Sri Lankans in last year’s Asia Cup and this, indeed, is a fitting chance to do so again.

A change in format in which there are no groups and quarter-finals will make it tough for Afghanistan to finish among the top four teams and secure a semi-final berth. They will likely cause an upset, perhaps even two, and finish in eighth or ninth position rather than stone last.

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• Sri Lanka

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