Despite their participation in the 2021 World Cup, the future of Afghanistan cricket remains unclear. The return of the Taliban regime undid many a 21st-century change in the nation, and cricket may fall prey too. A ban on women’s cricket and Cricket Australia cancelling the Test match in Hobart may well be the start of an avalanche.
Afghanistan cricket team’s rise from the ruins to evolve as a full member has been one of the most inspirational sporting journeys.
Their cricket is no alien to adversities. A volatile situation back home, visa issues in the UAE, Rashid Khan stepping down as captain and playing just three T20Is this year – Afghanistan's issues have been many, not all of which they could have controlled.
What is in their control, however, is how they fare in the tournament. Their preparation has not been the smoothest, but nothing has come easy to them.
The fact that they did not have to play the qualifying round is a testimony to how far they have evolved.
The Afghan are experts in scripting inspirational stories, and if they manage to go that extra mile this time, it will be nothing short of another fairytale.
They may lack the essential requisites, but what they have is the support of the cricket fraternity.
Afghanistan squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup
Mohammad Nabi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Hamid Hassan, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq.
Travel reserves: Sharafuddin Ashraf, Samiullah Shinwari, Dawlat Zadran, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Head coach: Lance Klusener
Consultant: Andy Flower
T20 World Cup Editions Participated: 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016
Best T20 World Cup results: Super 10s in 201
ICC T20I Ranking: 8
SWOT analysis
Strengths: Bowling is Afghanistan’s strength. They have one of the best spin attacks in the tournament. Nabi, Mujeeb and Rashid all have T20 career economy rates under seven.
In Rashid, they have the best white-ball spinner in the world. Nabi and Mujeeb provide excellent support, with both well capable of acing the Powerplay. Nabi and Mujeeb’s Powerplay economy in T20s read 6.42 and 6.24 respectively. And both are also wicket-takers.
At only 22, pacer Naveen-ul-Haq adds more to the bowling with his variation and adaptability in the death overs. Already a hit in franchise cricket, he averages 16 and goes at only 8.5 in the death overs.
Afghanistan also has an array of power hitters, quite capable of turning around games on their day. The addition of 19-year-old Gurbaz boosts their batting. He has a T20 strike rate of 154.
Weakness: The Afghan can steamroll weaker teams, but the question remains whether their batting can stand up against top teams. Can the trio of Zazai, Shahzad and Gurbaz live up to their explosive reputation against quality bowling attacks in the testing batting conditions in the UAE?
While the consistency and ability to absorb pressure in their batting department remains a concern, it is important to note that pacer Hamid has not played a T20I since the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Opportunity: They cannot control their future, but they do have a chance to further exhibit their mental strength by scripting another memorable tale.
Dual roles become crucial in conditions like these, and often the batting depth is tested. In Karim, Rashid and Nabi, Afghanistan have able all-rounders and experience to guide the team through difficult phases.
If they can cause two upsets out of their matches against New Zealand, Pakistan and India, the Afghans have history in sight.
They can hope the off-field situation to change if they progress to the semi-finals. It will also give something to the passionate Afghan supporters who had very little to cheer for in an otherwise grim 2021.
Threats: Their batting inconsistency was highlighted in their warm-up matches. They bludgeoned the West Indian attack in the first match to win the game, but against a better bowling unit like South Africa, they were exposed and could score at an innings run-rate of five an over.
As a team, they have not played enough games leading to the tournament. A team also needs – deserves – a stress-free environment to prepare for such a big event. That was not what the Afghans had.
Can the players perform to their optimum level at a global event despite the unstable environment back home and the uncertain future it holds?
Afghanistan’s likely XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi (c), Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq
Afghanistan’s Fixtures:
- Monday, 25 October: Afghanistan vs Scotland, Sharjah
- Friday, 29 October: Afghanistan vs Pakistan at Dubai
- Sunday, 31 October: Afghanistan vs Namibia at Abu Dhabi
- Wednesday, 3 November: Afghanistan vs India at Abu Dhabi
- Sunday, 7 November: Afghanistan vs New Zealand at Abu Dhabi