Afghanistan - A breath of fresh air at the Asia Cup

[Saj]

What a superb performance from Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. They could have won all 5 matches:

Smashed Sri Lanka by 91 runs
Thrashed Bangladesh by 136 runs
Narrowly lost to Pakistan by 3 wickets (3 balls left)
Lost to Bangladesh by 3 runs
Tied with India

They have been brilliant to watch and have been a breath of fresh air in the world of cricket.

Wonderful effort, never say die attitude, never give up and a team that will go from strength to strength with more exposure at the highest level.

 

[Ned Flanders]

Our team could learn a thing or two from them.

It's all about your attitude and desire to win, all our boys do is wear bracelets.

We would kill to have Mohammad Nabi at 7.

 

[Shandarchowka]

Such a good committed performance. I was enjoying today's match so much. Their fielding has been exceptional today.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

A very dedicated bunch of players and I am very proud of them. Coming from a country which was war ridden till 2005, without any basic infrastructure for cricket, no home ground nothing...yet they fight like champions. Afg is a classic example of talk less and perform more, something our eastern neighbours can learn.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Only thing they need to change is the passanger captain, ive been impressed by them all tournament. Deserved a win over pak or india for their efforts even though they missed out on both.

 

[troodon]

They will be a force in the next 5 years. They have churned out quite a few talented players recently.

Shehzad's interview is as entertaining as his batting

 

[Ned Flanders]

Deserved a win over pak or india for their efforts even though they missed out on both.

No, that doesn't make any sense.

The team that deserved to win in the end did win.

 

[pakistani pride]

They have a LONG way to go. Wont get these tired pitches all the time where you can bowl 30 plus overs of spin.

 

[Savak]

Shows what playing with a fearless attitude can result in.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Amazing progress. Faster progress than Bangladesh. But they need to have 2 more solid batsmen. These tracks are designed for their strengths. On patta wickets they need some batsmen.

 

[Savak]

250 runs in every game as well. Pakistan can learn how to bat from them.

 

[Rohit_Beardman]

Will easily overtake Pakistan in 2 years time

 

[BlackShadow]

Afgan Cricket's rise deserves a Netflix documentary. This is more than just Cricket, a triumph of humanity.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Took full advantage of the conditions on display, but you have to credit each and every one of the playing eleven. Played like champions and quite unlucky to be knocked out, while Pakistan and Bangladesh have squirmed around doing jack.

 

[Dios]

They did pretty well but full strength India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Sri Lanka teams would still beat them comfortably in ODIs.

 

[Mamoon]

If they continue to play their cricket under BCCI’s wing, they will surpass Pakistan in Limited Overs within 5-10 years to become Asia #2 team.

However, I don’t see them surpassing Pakistan’s as Asia’s #2 Test team.

Having their cricket base shifted from Pakistan to India is the best thing that has happened to Afghan cricket.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

If they continue to play their cricket under BCCI’s wing, they will surpass Pakistan in Limited Overs within 5-10 years to become Asia #2 team.

However, I don’t see them surpassing Pakistan’s as Asia’s #2 Test team.

Having their cricket base shifted from Pakistan to India is the best thing that has happened to Afghan cricket.

I think I’m having de ja vu, I’m sure I’ve seen a similar post like this about 20-25 times!

 

[Savak]

If they continue to play their cricket under BCCI’s wing, they will surpass Pakistan in Limited Overs within 5-10 years to become Asia #2 team.

However, I don’t see them surpassing Pakistan’s as Asia’s #2 Test team.

Having their cricket base shifted from Pakistan to India is the best thing that has happened to Afghan cricket.

I think to give you the most fulfilment in life, we as a country should request that the partition be reversed and become part of India.

 

[Josh]

Best suited team for these conditions. Just need one or two solid batsmen.

 

[Usman Chadda]

If they continue to play their cricket under BCCI’s wing, they will surpass Pakistan in Limited Overs within 5-10 years to become Asia #2 team.

However, I don’t see them surpassing Pakistan’s as Asia’s #2 Test team.

Having their cricket base shifted from Pakistan to India is the best thing that has happened to Afghan cricket.

No comment about India’s bench strength struggling to beat a considerably weaker side?

 

[Lion of Khyber]

IHaving their cricket base shifted from Pakistan to India is the best thing that has happened to Afghan cricket.

That’s a big misunderstanding my friend, Afghanistan’s fomer cricket base was Sharjah, UAE. Afghanistan has had 2 training camps in Pakistan the longest was for around 14 days

Afghanistan has been more in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh than Pakistan

 

[Mamoon]

That’s a big misunderstanding my friend, Afghanistan’s fomer cricket base was Sharjah, UAE. Afghanistan has had 2 training camps in Pakistan the longest was for around 14 days

Afghanistan has been more in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh than Pakistan

What I meant was that the vast majority of the first generation Afghanistan cricketers started their cricket in Pakistan, more specifically in Peshawar.

 

[Mamoon]

I think I’m having de ja vu, I’m sure I’ve seen a similar post like this about 20-25 times!

I do like to repeat myself, sometimes.

 

[Ned Flanders]

Can we poach Mohammad Nabi?

 

[Mamoon]

No comment about India’s bench strength struggling to beat a considerably weaker side?

No shame in a stalemate against Afghanistan in these conditions with your C team.

Afghanistan would beat every team’s C team in these conditions. They have an excellent stock of spin bowlers including the best Limited Overs spinner in the world. Their batting has been fantastic as well.

It is not just about the result. India C were actually cheated out of the win by the umpires today, but it is the spirit and the courage of these Afghan cricketers that merits all the plaudits in the world.

They are breathing new life into Asian cricket, especially with the likes of Sri Lanka and Pakistan in terminal decline.

 

[Lion of Khyber]

What I meant was that the vast majority of the first generation Afghanistan cricketers started their cricket in Pakistan, more specifically in Peshawar.

Yes, and they were u19 players when they started playing for Afghanistan. Even in Peshawar they were not part of any organized structure. I remember once in a while someone would pick Nabi college matches, Hassan was way too fat and the rest not good enough to play in any club.

 

[adzzy786]

I think I’m having de ja vu, I’m sure I’ve seen a similar post like this about 20-25 times!

Snap. He’s said that so many times

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Completely agree. Can't wait to see what the future holds for them - big things I hope.

 

[the_outsider]

What is unfortunate is that Afghanistan's has coincided with SL's dramatic fall in ODIs.

We really had a chance to have 5 high quality Asian teams coming together for the 2020 edition. It could have been the most open Asia Cup ever. But now I am not so sure.

 

[rhony]

It's their discipline that impresses everyone. They have a set template and all eleven follow that template to score a par score and give their bowlers a chance. They are very consistent

 

[rhony]

What is unfortunate is that Afghanistan's has coincided with SL's dramatic fall in ODIs.

We really had a chance to have 5 high quality Asian teams coming together for the 2020 edition. It could have been the most open Asia Cup ever. But now I am not so sure.

SL had gun batsmen but their progress is stalled for some reason. With a bit of experience they can be a good team.