thelandofthebravepeople
First Class Captain
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2010
- Runs
- 5,595
Afghanistan is one cricket team I follow quite closely beside Pakistan, so I though why not keep the discussion to one thread.
So Afghanistan team has managed to arrange 4 match ODI series against Zimbabwe and also have some 4 day games against Zimbabwe A team. Impressive! When was the last time an associate managed to get this many games?
I took a look at Afghanistan squad and I was impressed again. They have dropped all the non performing seniors and instead selected young cricketers. They have got rid of the fat wicketkeeper Shehzad aswell who I though was the backbone of their batting and many doubted whether they would be able to move forward after the generation that learned their cricket in Pakistan will retire. Now they have 5-6 really impressive young cricketers that have taken over from the first generation.
Usman Ghani from U.19 team scored 286 runs in 5 odi games at 57.20 Including 118 against Zimbabwe.
Hashmatullah Shaidi is in the team as well. Was very impressive at u.19 level. Scored 100 against Pakistan u.19 and scored at 50+ average at WCU.19 in UAE.
Nasir Jamal U.19 captain got his debut today and scored 28. He also scored at around 50 average at world cup and looks exciting middle order batsman.
Sharafudin Sharaf is left arm spinner also from U.19 team. Has bowled really well so far and he can hit big at the end as well.
Besides they have Shafiqullah as wicketkeeper. Hard hitting batsman 24 years old.
Javid Ahmadi 22 years old scored 57 today.
Aftab Alam 21 years old medium pacer took 2 wickets for 44
Overall as one can see the new generation is taking over and they are building a new team for the future.
They lost pretty badly in first 2 games. I though a new team is building up and even if they lose 4-0 they will learn from the experience, but today they won by 2 wicket in most dramatic way. The game was lost and some 60 runs needed at 12.5 pr. over, but a great finish got Afghans their first win of the series. Zim is leading 2-1 and I expect them to win 3-1, but this looks good from Afghan point of view. They are certainly not going Kenya way.
A look at the 4 day games squad and even more new names, players I don't know. I guess this means they have a large pool of players to chose from:
squads:
Afghanistan ODI squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Javed Ahmadi, Mirwais Ashraf, Nasir Jamal, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah (wk), Shapoor Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Usman Ghani
Four-day squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Abdullah Adil, Fareed Ahmad, Fazal Niazai, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Mujtaba, Mohibullah Oryakhel, Najeeb Tarakai, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Qasim Khan (wk), Rahmat Shah, Shabir Noori, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai
So Afghanistan team has managed to arrange 4 match ODI series against Zimbabwe and also have some 4 day games against Zimbabwe A team. Impressive! When was the last time an associate managed to get this many games?
I took a look at Afghanistan squad and I was impressed again. They have dropped all the non performing seniors and instead selected young cricketers. They have got rid of the fat wicketkeeper Shehzad aswell who I though was the backbone of their batting and many doubted whether they would be able to move forward after the generation that learned their cricket in Pakistan will retire. Now they have 5-6 really impressive young cricketers that have taken over from the first generation.
Usman Ghani from U.19 team scored 286 runs in 5 odi games at 57.20 Including 118 against Zimbabwe.
Hashmatullah Shaidi is in the team as well. Was very impressive at u.19 level. Scored 100 against Pakistan u.19 and scored at 50+ average at WCU.19 in UAE.
Nasir Jamal U.19 captain got his debut today and scored 28. He also scored at around 50 average at world cup and looks exciting middle order batsman.
Sharafudin Sharaf is left arm spinner also from U.19 team. Has bowled really well so far and he can hit big at the end as well.
Besides they have Shafiqullah as wicketkeeper. Hard hitting batsman 24 years old.
Javid Ahmadi 22 years old scored 57 today.
Aftab Alam 21 years old medium pacer took 2 wickets for 44
Overall as one can see the new generation is taking over and they are building a new team for the future.
They lost pretty badly in first 2 games. I though a new team is building up and even if they lose 4-0 they will learn from the experience, but today they won by 2 wicket in most dramatic way. The game was lost and some 60 runs needed at 12.5 pr. over, but a great finish got Afghans their first win of the series. Zim is leading 2-1 and I expect them to win 3-1, but this looks good from Afghan point of view. They are certainly not going Kenya way.
A look at the 4 day games squad and even more new names, players I don't know. I guess this means they have a large pool of players to chose from:
squads:
Afghanistan ODI squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hashmatullah Shaidi, Javed Ahmadi, Mirwais Ashraf, Nasir Jamal, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah (wk), Shapoor Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Usman Ghani
Four-day squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Abdullah Adil, Fareed Ahmad, Fazal Niazai, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Mujtaba, Mohibullah Oryakhel, Najeeb Tarakai, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Qasim Khan (wk), Rahmat Shah, Shabir Noori, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Yamin Ahmadzai
