Afghanistan tougher opponents in ODIs

by Rex Clementine

Kenya is one of heartbreaking stories in world cricket. Semi-finalists in the 2003 World Cup and possessing quality players like Steve Tikolo and Maurice Odumbe, they fell apart soon and rarely find a place in global competitions these days. It’s a pity that Kenya didn’t get the support that Bangladesh received.

Thankfully, there has been plenty of support for Afghanistan from the sport’s stakeholders and their cricket is one of the success stories in the game. In fact, they are no longer also rans in global competitions. They are tough opponents.

In the last World Cup, they made three former champions eat humble pie – England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They nearly made it to the semi-finals as well and had they not spilled that Glenn Maxwell catch in Bombay; it was game over Australia. Such is the beauty of this sport. One drop catch can turn a tournament upside down.

Afghanistan are reaching new heights in limited overs cricket and the upcoming ODI and T-20 series will be quite a challenging for Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan’s ODI outfit will be different from their Test line-up. It’s a more experienced side as well and that’s what make them dangerous.

The side is captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, who skippered the Test side too.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one of their leading cricketers in white ball cricket and he returns to the side and will be expected to give them electrifying starts top of the order.

Ibrahim Zadran, who posted a century at SSC is a treat to watch. His role is to bat through the innings and if he stays till 50th over, Afghanistan will be looking to post anything over 300. A skillful batter he plays some elegant strokes and he is tipped as the next big thing in world cricket.

Rahmat Shah is more of a consolidator and along with Ibrahim he is the key batsman of Afghan side.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib are seam bowling all-rounders and one of them is expected to play along with spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Gulbadin is a former captain of Afghanistan.

Bowling used to be Afghanistan’s strength but now their batting is matching up to the bowling as well. Spinners Mujeeb ur Rahman with his off-spin and Noor Ahmed with his left-arm wrist spin are the key bowlers alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is a left-arm fast bowler.

Afghanistan will miss Rashid Khan though. The leg-spinner is recovering after having undergone surgery on his back. Qais Ahmad is the backup leg-spinner in the squad.

The first ODI will be played at Pallekele on Friday.