Afghanistan look to end disappointing campaign on a high against Canada
Rashid Khan’s team was eliminated after they lost to New Zealand and South Africa
Big Picture – Afghanistan’s changing of the guard?
Dead rubbers aren’t really an Afghanistan thing anymore. They defeated England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands, and came close to getting past Australia, in the 2023 ODI World Cup. They earned their place in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final, sending New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh to get there. Placed in the group of death at this T20 World Cup, they were a genuine threat to the progress of their peers.
As it turned out, a heartbreaking loss to South Africa, at the end of two Super Overs, left their campaign hanging by a string and now that thread’s been cut. Their game against Canada could well signal a changing of the guard. Mohammed Nabi, for example, is 41 years old and has already ushered in the next generation when he played a BPL game with his son Hassan Eisakhil last month. For what it’s worth, Rashid Khan hasn’t been told any of his players are thinking about moving on.
Canada has left their mark on this T20 World Cup, their 19-year-old opener writing his name up in lights. Yuvraj Samra highlights the talent that is bubbling away, just to the other side of international cricket’s spotlight, and the one thing they now have to do is make the most of it by recording a victory before they leave.
form guide
Afghanistan: WLLLW(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Canada: LLLWW
In the spotlight – Gurbaz and Dhaliwal
One inch. Maybe two. Had Rahmanullah Gurbaz had turned his bat face just a smidge more when he met Keshav Maharaj’s yorker, he would have found the gap at point and got the boundary that Afghanistan needed to push the South Africa game into a third Super Over. When he couldn’t, and was caught, he swiped the turf with his bat with so much force that he lifted himself off his legs. It will take some time for him to get over that. Maybe some runs here could help.
Navneet Dhaliwal will end his Canada career on Thursday. The 37-year-old former captain is already their highest scorer in the shortest format and counts qualifying for their first T20 World Cup, in 2024, as among his most treasured memories. He has one more chance to add to them.
Team news – Changes unlikely
Baring injuries, it is unlikely either team will be making any changes.
Afghanistan (possible): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Gulbadin Naib, 4 Sediqullah Atal, 5 Darwish Rasooli, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Ziaur Rahman
Canada (possible): 1 Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), 2 Yuvraj Samra, 3 Navneet Dhaliwal, 4 Nicholas Kirton, 5 Shreyas Movva (wk), 6 Harsh Thaker, 7 Saad Bin Zafar, 8 Jaskaran Singh, 9 Dillon Heyliger, 10 Shivam Sharma, 11 Ansh Patel
Pitch and conditions – Chennai confounds
Given this game will start at 7 pm local time, there is a chance that dew might play a part, in which case the team winning the toss. will want to bowl. Pitches in Chennai have been outstanding for batting, beating all pre-tournament predictions.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan paid glowing tribute to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott, saying the former England batter played a key role in steering the team in the right direction and raising the standards of Afghan cricket.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan paid rich homage to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott, saying the former England batsman played a defining role in putting the team on the right path and elevating the standards of Afghan cricket.
Afghanistan will face Canada in their final match of the T20 World Cup campaign, which will also mark Trott’s final game in charge.
“We have a series against Sri Lanka straight after the World Cup and then the IPL. Tomorrow is Jonathan Trott’s last game with us. We’ve had some incredible games and tours with him. He has been someone who has taken Afghanistan cricket to where it is now,” Rashid said on the eve of the Canada clash.
“I think he has worked so hard with every single one. Certainly everyone around us will miss him so much. He played a main role in taking this team on the right way, right path.”
RAISING THE BAR
Under Trott, Afghanistan has grown into a side capable of competing consistently against top teams across formats. Rashid stressed that the progress was a result of sustained hard work and clarity of direction.
Looking ahead, the captain emphasized the need for constant improvement as opposition teams begin to formulate specific plans against Afghanistan.
“Now nothing is easy for us. Teams will come against us with different plans. It’s about how we manage ourselves, upgrade our skills and stay one step ahead of the opposition. That depends on individuals and how we prepare ourselves,” he said.
“We have gone through tough and pressure situations, but individually you have to think about how you’re going to respond and perform for the team.”
FOCUS ON 50-OVER WORLD CUP
Rashid also turned his attention to the upcoming ODI World Cup in South Africa, saying Afghanistan are determined to building on their strong performance in the 2023 edition.
“We had a great 2023 World Cup, but we look forward to improving the things we didn’t do well and keep improving each and every day,” he added.
NABI’S FUTURE AND ENJOYING THE GAME
Asked whether experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi would take a call on his international future, Rashid said the decision rests solely with the veteran.
“I think I need to ask him. Well, individually, everybody knows himself very well, than anyone else to say, it’s time for you to go. I think he is still fit. He is still doing well for the team.
“He is still fielding on the boundary and running better than any other youngster in the team, and I feel like you still have some cricket left, but it’s all about individual decision. It’s all about till what time you enjoy your cricket. For me personally, until I enjoy, I will play. Once that stops, I don’t see myself playing anymore.”
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