‘Afghanistan are one of the tournament’s dark horses’
Afghanistan have enjoyed an astounding rise up the international cricket pecking order, taking huge strides at a rapid pace. Having familiarity with the conditions in the UAE where they have played the majority of their cricket, will the Asian side make a deep run in the tournament, springing a major surprise or two along the way?
Ever since their tournament debut at the 2010 ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, it has been a story of constantly striving for improvement.
While some of the faces of old still remain becoming a cornerstone of Afghan cricket, new stars have emerged, forging the side into a steely unit, capable of competing with the best that international cricket has to offer.
The 2021 edition in UAE and Oman will be another parameter where Afghanistan will gauge their current standing in the global game while charting their progress in international cricket.
Producing their best in the shortest format has always been Afghanistan's forte. It is the format in which they have revelled the most and can boast of having some of the most dangerous T20 players in their artillery.
Ever since gaining ICC's Affiliate status in 2001, Afghanistan cricket has come by leaps and bounds and are a genuine force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket. They have a formidable record in T20 cricket, having played 84 matches and having won 58 of them, with a 69.64-win percentage.
"Experienced T20 players who have played in leagues around the world, such as Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi, definitely have a positive side. Afghanistan are one of the tournament's dark horses. The situation changes so rapidly in the T20 that neither side will downplay us. We are part of a team studded with stars from India, Pakistan, New Zealand and more and want to have a good show. Some of our players are playing in leagues around the world and the rest are training in Afghanistan. It should make our player stand firmly," Afghanistan coach Lance Klusener, who played 49 Tests and 171 ODIs for South Africa, told an Indian newspaper.
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