Has Afghanistan snatched the stature of Pakistan in the realm of cricket?

[GoUgandaCranes]

I genuinely feel that PCB has been replaced by ACB in terms of cricketing skills. They made it to the T20 world cup semi final as well & they are challenging teams more often than before. Play them in turning conditions and their spinners have the ability to take down any team.

They also have a decent all-rounder & a couple of good fast bowlers. The only thing missing from their game is a really great batter but their batting talent is now not far behind any big team. Teams used to go to tournaments not knowing what Pak will bring in but now everyone knows what we are while our mercurial status has been taken by Afg.

What do you people think about this?

 

[adi_62941]

They look exactly 1950 and 60s side of pakistan. Pakistan were very good in those decades against top teams

 

[saimayubera]

t20 i think they are already better.

odi maybe par.

one thing is they don't really care about tests and fully focus on white ball.

 

[Mas-LFC]

Trott is a fantastic tactician! Has changed the mentality of Afghan batters. Now Afghanistan play with freedom and a lot of confidence.

 

[Local.Dada]

Afghanistan doesn’t have a sustainable model: they have no cricket structure. They identify talents and back them but such methods can dry down fast.

Pakistan still has somewhat of a structure. They might pick out of the box picks but still there is some method to the madness.

Unless Pak structure goes further down and Afghanistan puts a system in place they will always play catch up to Pakistan even though they might have great talent.

Kind of India vs Pak comparison. Pak can put a world beating X1 at times but it is not sustainable vs India. Same thing applies here.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Not yet replaced. They don't have fast bowlers.

 

[saimayubera]

Not yet replaced. They don't have fast bowlers.

not like pakistan have any good ones.

afg dont have super fast bowlers but have a few canny swing bowlers.

 

[Hellion]

They are more naturally talented, better looking and also speak a more masculine language like Pashto instead of the that effeminate Urdu. Sporting future is brighter for sure

 

[hafizexpress]

Trott is a fantastic tactician! Has changed the mentality of Afghan batters. Now Afghanistan play with freedom and a lot of confidence.

Fully agreed! He's been a rock in the dressing room. I saw some people crediting YK for Afg improvement but he's barely been with the team. Trott has done a lot with Afg cricket in the last few years and he deserves full credit

 

[Local.Dada]

Fully agreed! He's been a rock in the dressing room. I saw some people crediting YK for Afg improvement but he's barely been with the team. Trott has done a lot with Afg cricket in the last few years and he deserves full credit

Ajay Jadeja did a lot to transform Afghan team from a mental aspect.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

They look exactly 1950 and 60s side of pakistan. Pakistan were very good in those decades against top teams

They look more like the 70s Pak & are almost ripe for their first big moment in Int'l cricket.

 

[saimayubera]

not like pakistan have any good ones.

afg dont have super fast bowlers but have a few canny swing bowlers.

and they won the match

 

[Itachi]

Not yet but they have left Bangladesh far behind. Bangladeshi fans should be frustrated how pathetic their team is in comparison to Afg.

 

[saimayubera]

Not yet but they have left Bangladesh far behind. Bangladeshi fans should be frustrated how pathetic their tram is in comparison to Afg.

bangladesh has overtaken pak too tbh.

 

[mominsaigol]

@Major

See i told you, Afghanistan is a better team then Pakistan and it had nothing to do with hatred.

In 2023 they had surpassed Pakistan in all formats but lost 3-0 due to 2 games being bottle jobs and the 3rd one they lost interest as the series was lost and were demotivated.

In wc 2023 they recked Pakistan and it's a miracle that Pakistan didn't come face to face with them since then as otherwise the bubble would have burst.

 

[Abid Z]

lol. Afghanistan are way better than Pak in LO cricket. Pak shouldn’t even be a reference point. They have limitations for sure but they punch above their weight and are able to put teams under pressure.

 

[Kianig89]

1x WC, 1x T20WC, 1x CT, 1x Test Mace

Numerous final appearances , AFG are still a long shot to reach Pakistan level. Though our decline is very rapid and chronic

 

[sweep_shot]

Yes.

This Afghanistan team remind me of old Pakistan. Exciting to watch and can win/lose a game out of nowhere.

 

[saimayubera]

1x WC, 1x T20WC, 1x CT, 1x Test Mace

Numerous final appearances , AFG are still a long shot to reach Pakistan level. Though our decline is very rapid and chronic

no one is talking historically.

west indies has 2 X wc, 2 X two wc, 1 X ct plus god knows how many test maces if test maces would have been a thing in the 80s-90s.

no one will argue that they are better than countries like pak, nz, eng, sa etc currently who have historically less achievements than them.

current day afg is a better white ball team than pak

 

[Major]

@Major

See i told you, Afghanistan is a better team then Pakistan and it had nothing to do with hatred.

In 2023 they had surpassed Pakistan in all formats but lost 3-0 due to 2 games being bottle jobs and the 3rd one they lost interest as the series was lost and were demotivated.

In wc 2023 they recked Pakistan and it's a miracle that Pakistan didn't come face to face with them since then as otherwise the bubble would have burst.

Nope they are not better, and im saying this as a big fan of Afghan cricket and someone whos rally happy with Afghanistan winning today

 

[mesmerizer85]

Im sure AFG team selects players on merit thats why we are seeing the results, and not someones chachas or mamus connection, or a certain political party supporter.

 

[shah9425]

Not yet

Still long way to go

 

[mesmerizer85]

Im sure AFG team selects players on merit thats why we are seeing the results, and not someones chachas or mamus connection, or a certain political party supporter.

Add to that you can see a hunger in them for winning and their body language shows that , unlike some timid teams. Mentality and game awareness are important along with physical fitness. They dont have express pace 150 bowlers but know where to bowl to stop runs.

 

[batandballbattle]

Currently they are much better than us in white ball. But in red ball they still have a long way to go.

 

[mominsaigol]

Nope they are not better, and im saying this as a big fan of Afghan cricket and someone whos rally happy with Afghanistan winning today

They are 100% better and anyone who argues otherwise has gone insane.

Fakhar and saim are literally 100% Pakistan batting side and that's it. Bowlers are a non factor.

On current form

1) Zadran > Babar. Babar hasn't been > anyone for a long while now.

2) Fakhar/saim > Gurbaz > Imam > Abdullah

3) Seqi > Saud/Kamran

4) gurbaz > rizwan > Rahmat shah

5) Agha > Hasmatullah

6) Omarzai > tayyab/ Niazi

7) Nabi > Khusdil

8) Rashid Khan > Shaheen in terms of batting and value as rashid is a better spinner in current form then shaheen as a pacer

9) Farooqi > Pak trio

10) Noor Ahmed > Abrar in t20, abrar on current form is slightly > Noor in odi

11) pace trip > Gulbadin > Reserve like faheem ane husnain

It's clear their vastly superior atm.

 

[Bhaijaan]

No cricket nation has ever reached this level in such a short span of time. In that regard we are already by far the greatest baby cricket nation ever. We a child prodigy in cricketing terminology.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has been that baby that don’t do well at school and parents gave up already. Our parents think we have a bright future ahead of us and many world cups will come in our adulthood.

 

[Major]

They are 100% better and anyone who argues otherwise has gone insane.

Fakhar and saim are literally 100% Pakistan batting side and that's it. Bowlers are a non factor.

On current form

1) Zadran > Babar. Babar hasn't been > anyone for a long while now.

2) Fakhar/saim > Gurbaz > Imam > Abdullah

3) Seqi > Saud/Kamran

4) gurbaz > rizwan > Rahmat shah

5) Agha > Hasmatullah

6) Omarzai > tayyab/ Niazi

7) Nabi > Khusdil

8) Rashid Khan > Shaheen in terms of batting and value as rashid is a better spinner in current form then shaheen as a pacer

9) Farooqi > Pak trio

10) Noor Ahmed > Abrar in t20, abrar on current form is slightly > Noor in odi

11) pace trip > Gulbadin > Reserve like faheem ane husnain

It's clear their vastly superior atm.

Again no.

Pakistan just had a wrong squad selection, but afg are not better.

Afg still lacks the batters and their pace bowling is still a problem.

Only the spin department is where Afg is ahead but that too only in limited overs.

 

[Major]

No cricket nation has ever reached this level in such a short span of time. In that regard we are already by far the greatest baby cricket nation ever. We a child prodigy in cricketing terminology.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has been that baby that don’t do well at school and parents gave up already. Our parents think we have a bright future ahead of us and many world cups will come in our adulthood.

who the hell is in ur dp

 

[SportsWarrior]

Great win by Afg and pretty poor by Pak in this tournament. But lets not go overboard. Pak is still the second best team in Asia although SL is now rising and I expect them take that spot. Two slots are fixed, top team is India and the bottom team is BD. Good fight for remaining three spots in Asian cricket. Once Nepal comes and plays international cricket, for few years they will occupy the bottom spot. After that BD will reclaim what is rightfully theirs

 

[mominsaigol]

Again no.

Pakistan just had a wrong squad selection, but afg are not better.

Afg still lacks the batters and their pace bowling is still a problem.

Only the spin department is where Afg is ahead but that too only in limited overs.

Pakistan just had a wrong squad selection, but afg are not better.

They have had the qwrong squad selection for 3 events in a row now. Thats not Afghanistan's fault. Im comparing squads from 2023 to 2025 obviously. Why on earth would I dwelve into hypotheticals?

Secondly what do you even mean by wrong squad selections?

2023 Pakistan had been playing the exact same squad for the entire Asia cup, NZ series and even prior. Falhar being excluded and naseem getting injured due to a panic moment and unfortunate injuries means squat. The bowlers wouldn't have done anything since the total was too low to defend. It would have been a falhar or bust situation.

In 2025 fakhar and saim got injured, but where's the wrong squad selections? Sufiyan and niazi missed out, Niazi has been a circus clown in odi, khsudil actually performed better as a batsmen.

Babar, Rizwan, Imam, Saud, Kamran ghulam, tayyab tahir, Agha

^^ All these guys have consistently represented Pakistan for 2 years now with the pace trio ever present.

 

[saimayubera]

Great win by Afg and pretty poor by Pak in this tournament. But lets not go overboard. Pak is still the second best team in Asia although SL is now rising and I expect them take that spot. Two slots are fixed, top team is India and the bottom team is BD. Good fight for remaining three spots in Asian cricket. Once Nepal comes and plays international cricket, for few years they will occupy the bottom spot. After that BD will reclaim what is rightfully theirs

lost to sl in asia cup final 2022
pak came 4th in asia cup 2023
came 4th in asian games 2023
2024 t20 wc didnt even make super 8 which bang and afg did (afg went to semis)
whitewashed by bang in tests in 24
ct 2025 are winless

they may be tied 2nd but not undisputed and white ball are definitely below afg

 

[Savak]

Credit to Afghanistan for making the most of the support they are getting from the ICC, BCCI and the exposure to the top tier leagues like IPL, ILT20, SA T20, Big Bash League. The result is now in front of us. Their cricketers are way fitter than Pakistani players and more hungry to perform.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Afghanistan plays with the kind of jazba, dileri and badmaashi that Shoaib Akhtar wishes Pakistan could.

 

[Asif321]

What a team even they loose they try their level best . Always fighting with passion and how far they have come . Current Pakistan team is just embarrassment

 

[BlindingLight]

Boober Azam could never play half the innings zadran played

 

[Asif321]

They are 100% better and anyone who argues otherwise has gone insane.

Fakhar and saim are literally 100% Pakistan batting side and that's it. Bowlers are a non factor.

On current form

1) Zadran > Babar. Babar hasn't been > anyone for a long while now.

2) Fakhar/saim > Gurbaz > Imam > Abdullah

3) Seqi > Saud/Kamran

4) gurbaz > rizwan > Rahmat shah

5) Agha > Hasmatullah

6) Omarzai > tayyab/ Niazi

7) Nabi > Khusdil

8) Rashid Khan > Shaheen in terms of batting and value as rashid is a better spinner in current form then shaheen as a pacer

9) Farooqi > Pak trio

10) Noor Ahmed > Abrar in t20, abrar on current form is slightly > Noor in odi

11) pace trip > Gulbadin > Reserve like faheem ane husnain

It's clear they’re vastly superior atm.

100 percent

 

[Bhaijaan]

Khuda gawah!

Aazmayish kadi hai, imtihan mushkil, lekin hausla buland!

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Great surge of late
===

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

To those listing trophies of Pak as a status symbol, by that definition WI is still better than Pak because they have more silver ware and dominated for the longest.

I'm not talking about cricket positions from the perspective of history, just current ranking, form, & style of play. We were mercurial, we don't have a single bowler who can run through a side in normal conditions. We have been below them in three last tournaments, one of them was a tie but we lost to them so I am ranking them above us.

I feel no one misses Pak players in IPL or other leagues because Afghan players have taken up that slot.

 

[Varun]

Forget Pakistan, what does Afghanistan tell us about the eternal minnows that are Bangladesh?

 

[Itachi]

Forget Pakistan, what does Afghanistan tell us about the eternal minnows that are Bangladesh?

The most undeserving country to play as test nation?

 

[NishanKonar]

Afghanistan is not better than pakistan. Problem for Pakistan is they kinda freeze against big teams like India Aus NZ - hence they end up looking much worse than they actually are. That's bcoz they have lost too often against such teams in recent times - hence they have lose belief in themselves when they play such teams

A Pak vs Afg series will be competitive and Pakistan wud probably win 3-2 or even 4-1 coz Pakistan wont freeze against them. They still believe they have the wood over them

Ofcourse we need a 5 match ODI series to see who actually wins in real life !

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Imagine how many more Afghan Refugees are waiting in line. PCB needs to start scouting in Karachi and the northern areas. When was the last time we saw a Punjabi dude built like Gulbadin?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Afghanistan is not better than pakistan. Problem for Pakistan is they kinda freeze against big teams like India Aus NZ - hence they end up looking much worse than they actually are. That's bcoz they have lost too often against such teams in recent times - hence they have lose belief in themselves when they play such teams

A Pak vs Afg series will be competitive and Pakistan wud probably win 3-2 or even 4-1 coz Pakistan wont freeze against them. They still believe they have the wood over them

Ofcourse we need a 5 match ODI series to see who actually wins in real life !

Afghanistan player genuinely get angry at each other when they make mistakes. Especially Rashid. They want more desperately.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Forget Pakistan, what does Afghanistan tell us about the eternal minnows that are Bangladesh?

Nasser is mincing no words about Bangladesh. He says "Bangladesh has been playing the same cricket for 15 years"

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Great surge of late
===

View attachment 151376

Should’ve beaten us in WC 2019 and Asia Cup 2021 as well had it not been for Imad Wasim and Asif Ali.

 

[sweep_shot]

Should’ve beaten us in WC 2019 and Asia Cup 2021 as well had it not been for Imad Wasim and Asif Ali.

That 2019 PAK-AFG WC game was a classic one.

I remember Afghanistan was on the verge of winning it. Gulbadin Naib came in and gave away 4-5 boundaries (scored by Imad). Pakistan ended up winning.

They have come a long way since then.

 

[Major]

Pakistan just had a wrong squad selection, but afg are not better.

They have had the qwrong squad selection for 3 events in a row now. Thats not Afghanistan's fault. Im comparing squads from 2023 to 2025 obviously. Why on earth would I dwelve into hypotheticals?

Secondly what do you even mean by wrong squad selections?

2023 Pakistan had been playing the exact same squad for the entire Asia cup, NZ series and even prior. Falhar being excluded and naseem getting injured due to a panic moment and unfortunate injuries means squat. The bowlers wouldn't have done anything since the total was too low to defend. It would have been a falhar or bust situation.

In 2025 fakhar and saim got injured, but where's the wrong squad selections? Sufiyan and niazi missed out, Niazi has been a circus clown in odi, khsudil actually performed better as a batsmen.

Babar, Rizwan, Imam, Saud, Kamran ghulam, tayyab tahir, Agha

^^ All these guys have consistently represented Pakistan for 2 years now with the pace trio ever present.

Not yet. They are on the verge but they need some good batters.
England lost today, would you say they are better than England?

 

[kingusama92]

It's a good team but this comparison depends on the conditions too.

They've only done well when it's suited to their playstyle. For example, they didn't win a game at the 2019 WC (England) or the 2022 T20 WC (Australia).

 

[jnaveen1980]

It's a good team but this comparison depends on the conditions too.

They've only done well when it's suited to their playstyle. For example, they didn't win a game at the 2019 WC (England) or the 2022 T20 WC (Australia).

They came close to beating INdia in 2019. They only needed 12 or 13 in the last over when Nabi was batting. Shami took a hatrick. Also ENgland deliberately prepared pitches that helped no spinner. Even Kuldeep, Chahal couldn't do much there. For heavensake BD crossed 320 three times. Worst world cup for spinners .

 

[mominsaigol]

Not yet. They are on the verge but they need some good batters.
England lost today, would you say they are better than England?

They are not better then England. England likely beats them in a series. But that's not the point. The way you determine who's > who in a team and who'll likely come out on top is based of player vs player comparisons and how much inform their players are atm.

For example on current form

1) Zadran > Phil Salt since Salt has been flunking odi left and right

2) Duckett > Gurbaz

3) Seqi > Jamie smith at no 3. Other wise Jamie smith >>>>>> Seqi, Aka England made a huge mistake on playing smith at 3 when he's clearly not a top order batter.

4) Root > Rahmat Shah

5) Brooks > Shahidi even if Brooks is flunking odi, Shahidi isn't that good

6) Butler > Omairzai

7) Livingstone > Nabi

8) Rashid Khan > Jamie Overton

9-11) Adil, Wood, Archer > farooqi, Gulbadin and Noor.

Overall England is a stronger team and Afghanistan can only beat them in one off outliers.

The difference however is that Afghanistan players are superior to pakistan players in current form.

1) Zadran > Babar on current form who's basically useless as an opener and declining in form day by day.

2) Gurbaz > Imam no question

3) Seqi > Saud, Seqi is not a good batter but he's miles ahead of saud as an pdi batsmen. Saud is basically a test player in asian conditons

4) Rizwan > rahmat shah

5) Agha > Shahidi

6) Omairzai > Tayyab

7) Nabi > Khusdil

8-11) Rashid, Noor, Gulbadin and Farooqi are a more deadly combo then Abrar, Shaheen, Naseem and Rauf.

^^ Afghanistan is clearly superior to pakistan without fakhar and saim's inclusion.

This isn't 2019 anymore when pakistan had a prime fakhar, An inform Imam and babar, An inform haris sohail, hafeez and malik who granted were declining but are still better no 4 and no 6 then anyone Afghanistan has ever produced, etc etc.

2025 pakistan is the 2nd weakest odi team pakistan has ever played. Weakest was 2023 pakistan pre Nz game when pak was playing with Abdullah instead of fakhar.

 

[kingusama92]

They came close to beating INdia in 2019. They only needed 12 or 13 in the last over when Nabi was batting. Shami took a hatrick. Also ENgland deliberately prepared pitches that helped no spinner. Even Kuldeep, Chahal couldn't do much there. For heavensake BD crossed 320 three times. Worst world cup for spinners .

No doubt but let's be honest Pakistan performing like that in a tournament would get roasted.

I can't take away anything but the standards are not raised for them right now. Any win is seen as progress (and they've made tremendous progress).

Even between these two teams, they got swept in 2023.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No doubt but let's be honest Pakistan performing like that in a tournament would get roasted.

I can't take away anything but the standards are not raised for them right now. Any win is seen as progress (and they've made tremendous progress).

Even between these two teams, they got swept in 2023.

I think They were a little raw at that time. In the 2023 World Cup, a couple of their chases were top-notch. Highly professional. One minor thing I have noticed is a lot of Afghanistan players speak decent English. Even today they were chirping in English against England. I presume it is seemingly easy for others to communicate with them in English.

 

[Vikram1989]

I think They were a little raw at that time. In the 2023 World Cup, a couple of their chases were top-notch. Highly professional. One minor thing I have noticed is a lot of Afghanistan players speak decent English. Even today they were chirping in English against England. I presume it is seemingly easy for others to communicate with them in English.

I was really surprised by their English. Every one is making effort to get better off and on the field. Have u ever saw a pak or bng player really attempting to learn eng for communication with other teams ?.Akram once said pak players will say "yeah yeah " stuff to foreign coaches so that they will leave quickly. Fizz after playing almost 10 years in ipl still needs a translator

 

[Vikram1989]

Afghanistan player genuinely get angry at each other when they make mistakes. Especially Rashid. They want more desperately.

Imagine rashid along with that clown rizwan in a same team. Rizwan smiling when loosing badly will be the end of his life.

 

[kingusama92]

I think They were a little raw at that time. In the 2023 World Cup, a couple of their chases were top-notch. Highly professional. One minor thing I have noticed is a lot of Afghanistan players speak decent English. Even today they were chirping in English against England. I presume it is seemingly easy for others to communicate with them in English.

Definitely true.

They're also quite fit too these days compared to when Mohammad Shahzad was opening.

I am enjoying their growth too and cheering them on. Asia needs another strong nation that has passion along with being able to do well in the upcoming years.

 

[Mockingbird]

I was really surprised by their English. Every one is making effort to get better off and on the field. Have u ever saw a pak or bng player really attempting to learn eng for communication with other teams ?.Akram once said pak players will say "yeah yeah " stuff to foreign coaches so that they will leave quickly. Fizz after playing almost 10 years in ipl still needs a translator

I guess they learnt English to communicate with their coach Trott? Plus they play in so many leagues around the world, it’s in their own interests to learn English.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yep. Afghanistan has taken over the place of Pakistan in the LOI.

Recently they have defeated teams like Australia england and on the other side, Pakistan lost to USA LOL.

 

[Vikram1989]

I guess they learnt English to communicate with their coach Trott? Plus they play in so many leagues around the world, it’s in their own interests to learn English.

Trott can communicate to rashid and rashid can explain them .But compare that to pak and bng players who don't want to learn.Every one is taking ownership for their progress and don't want to stay like frog in the well .willingness to learn is there which is absolutely zero among pak and bng players.Fizz even now wants a translator in ipl to communicatewith his teammates.

 

[Devadwal]

It's a good team but this comparison depends on the conditions too.

They've only done well when it's suited to their playstyle. For example, they didn't win a game at the 2019 WC (England) or the 2022 T20 WC (Australia).

Game against England at the Lahore was on a flat Deck so this theory is already busted .

Afghanistan is improving day by day .

 

[kingusama92]

Game against England at the Lahore was on a flat Deck so this theory is already busted .

Afghanistan is improving day by day .

They definitely are, but it's still conditions they're familiar with.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Wasim Akram, when asked by Waqar Younis, highlighted how Afghanistan produced a stellar display with both bat and ball to beat England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 during a show on a local sports media outlet:

"The way they won that game against England... Ibrahim Zadran played so well after they lost early wickets, and then to defend 320 with a wet ball was commendable. The ball was literally wet because of the dew. That will give them a lot of confidence. Yeah, Australia can make it one-sided, but if Afghanistan is on song, then they can beat any team in the world."

Ajay Jadeja, also on the panel, then decided to remind everyone of Afghanistan's strong record in the last three ICC events:

"They have won more games than your team, my friend, in ICC events. Anybody who thinks it's a one-off thing is fooling themselves."

 

[Varun]

Afghanistan are the new Pakistan
Pakistan are the new Bangladesh

 

[globetrotter]

The real difference between both teams is….

Pakistan team Is controlled by PCB
Afghanistan team is controlled by TCB

 

[Hellion]

Afghanistan are the new Pakistan
Pakistan are the new Bangladesh

Bangladesh are the new Papua New Guinea

 

[FearlessRoar]

Mohammad Hafeez, while speaking on a TV show:

"What makes me happier is that today we are sitting and talking about Afghanistan’s growth. Their growth has reached a level where, when they come to play against mighty Australia, there is a percentage of people who believe they can win even before the match starts."

"Afghanistan’s team has shown remarkable growth. This is their plus point, and we should appreciate them for it. Without having a system, without having any first-class structure, their passion is leading them and promoting them so much that over the past four to five years, they have been competing at the international stage, even against the No. 1 teams."

"Today’s match is not a write-off. There is competition, and even before the match begins, I can confidently say that 40-45% of people believe Afghanistan can win this game."

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Much better than Pakistan
===

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[Flat_Track_Bully]

Afg batting is stronger than Pakistan now. Incredible decline.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Afghanistan are the new Pakistan
Pakistan are the new Bangladesh

Pakistan fans nowadays (esp Rizwan-Babar fanboys) give Bangladesh fans vibes

 

[Katwalindian]

Afghanistan play 95 percent of their matches against minnows while Pakistan play 95 percent of matches against big teams. So unfair comparison. Pakistan to tour England in 2026 and 2028 for 8 tests while afghanistan gonna play zimbabawe and ireland and we gonna assume that they are some world beaters

 

[charlie007]

Afghanistan are progressing well but that’s it at this time. They need more matches and tours against bigger teams to claim they are better than Pakistan. The cricketing structure in Pakistan, as much improvement as it needs, is still better than Afghanistan. The talent pool and role models in Pakistan will be far greater than Afghanistan in the foreseeable future. Getting there, but still below Pakistan.

 

[jnaveen1980]

From what i have seen in IPL and internationals there is a nervous energy when an Afghanistan fields. They are athletic. But they have to make catching a second nature. These are the things that put Australia in a category. They just elevate their fielding in crunch games something others don't do. Even other SENA team doesn't do that well.

 

[Markhor]

Imagine how many more Afghan Refugees are waiting in line. PCB needs to start scouting in Karachi and the northern areas. When was the last time we saw a Punjabi dude built like Gulbadin?

Not Punjabi but we had Sohail Khan who unfortunately after his second spells emitted more CO2 than a coal mine.

 

[chinaman00]

Afghanistan is easily the second best team in Asia after India. Pakistan is lucky not to play them often or else they would be given a century’s worth of humiliation.

 

[Aami]

Lets have a few series between them and then decide, but they look very competitive

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Lets have a few series between them and then decide, but they look very competitive

but i want to see them how they perform in SENA countries because they heavily rely on spin conditions but if they can play the same level of game play on bouncy tracks then i might call them a competitive team.

 

[kingusama92]

They almost play a vintage Pakistani brand of cricket.

The true "one minute down and next minute up" example in modern cricket. You just don't know what type of Afghanistan team is going to show up each innings let alone each match.

But they have a lot to answer for in seaming/bouncy conditions. Their top order looked pathetic when the ball was moving and would have been torched by Starc and Hazlewood.

 

[Varun]

Not Punjabi but we had Sohail Khan who unfortunately after his second spells emitted more CO2 than a coal mine.

Was this the "Hoga Kohli Ghar ka Kohli" Sohail Khan?

 

[charlie007]

Was this the "Hoga Kohli Ghar ka Kohli" Sohail Khan?

Lol yes! It’s important to remain humble for these players. Where’s he now!

 

[BouncerGuy]

Afghanistan has definitely improved a lot and as a unit, they look a lot settled. Pakistan is having a pretty low time atm. Currently, Afghans are definitely the 2nd best team for me in LOIs.