What we learned about Afghanistan from this T20 World Cup

June 23, 2024 will resonate with Afghan cricket fans the world over for years to come, for it was the day that their team finally tasted success over Australia. Eight months after their hearts had been broken by Glenn Maxwell’s miraculous double-hundred in the ODI World Cup, Afghanistan stunned Australia by 21 runs on a tricky pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingston, St Vincent to push themselves one giant step towards a maiden appearance at a World Cup. 

A couple of hours after Pat Cummins became the third bowler in history to take a hat-trick in consecutive innings, Rashid Khan’s team pulled the floor from underneath Australia’s feet with Gulbadin Naib taking four wickets. 

What that result did was turn Group 1 one of the Super Eights on its head, and leave Australia needing to win three matches in a row to lift the World Cup trophy. 

Afghanistan sent Australia home two days later by beating Bangladesh by eight runs, thus ensuring a first final-four for the first time. June 25, 2024 was this cricket team’s second most famous day ever since they made their international debut in 2009, and it came two days after Afghanistan scalped their biggest opponent to date. 

A corner had been turned, irrespective of what transpired during the first semi-final 48 hours later. June 27, 2024 was the biggest day in Afghanistan cricket history because it was their first ICC World Cup semi-final, but unfortunately for their legion of fans the dream came crashing to reality in no time. 

So dominant was South Africa’s bowling attack on a difficult pitch in Trinidad that Afghanistan were bowled out for just 56 in 11.5 overs. Only one batsman, the allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai with 10, made it to double figures and the highest contribution to Afghanistan’s lowest T20I total ever were 13 extras. 

The Trinidad surface and the result left Afghanistan’s coach Jonathan Trott frustrated. “That’s not what you want to have in the semi-final of the World Cup, plain and simple. T20 cricket is about attacking, scoring runs, not looking to survive,” said the former England international. A fair assessment, but then many will also say that Afghanistan just did not have the batting nous to cope with quality pace and spin on that surface. 

Whatever the truth may be, Trott and his team can look back at a memorable campaign that saw Afghanistan eliminate New Zealand from round one and Australia from round two. Trott’s own role in Afghanistan’s rise is visible, given that they came within striking distance of making the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup – where they beat three former champions – and the hope is that they player gain in confidence from this run in the West Indies. 

The bowling has become Afghanistan’s strength. Where once it was spin that defined them, Afghanistan now have in Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq two quality quicks who can run down any opposition on their day. Fazalhaq is this World Cup’s leading wicket-taker with 17 at 9.41 apiece, which is the most for a bowler in a single edition. Naveen has gained in confidence and capability, as his 13 wickets at an economy of six per over indicate. Rashid is not getting any younger but remains a dynamite allrounder and inspirational figure for this team and has solid support from Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb ur Rahman. 

Afghanistan’s drawback is that they are a team too reliant on their openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaaz and Ibrahim Zadran, and do not have a middle order to speak of. Gurbaaz is the leading run-getter of this World Cup with 281 and Zadran is third with 231. The two scored all five of Afghanistan’s half-centuries in the tournament, and over 50 per cent of the team’s runs. If Afghanistan can find a better middle order, they will no doubt compete harder in future World Cups. 

The beauty and bravado of what Gurbaaz and Zadran can do was best on display during the match with Australia. After Mitchell Marsh chose to bowl – that too after resting Mitchell Starc – at a venue where historically chasing has been tough, the initial few overs went Australia’s way. After 3.5 overs the score was just 11, which is when Gurbaz decided that something had to give. Out he stepped to Pat Cummins to carve him out of the stadium for six. That one shot swung the momentum Afghanistan’s way. 

Josh Hazlewood was then hit for six, before Zadran crashed three fours in five deliveries. Afghanistan ended the Powerplay block on 40 without loss, crossed 100 in the 14th over and when the first wicket fell, the score was 118 in the 16th over. A stumble ensued, but a total of 148/6 in 20 overs had planted doubts in the minds of the Australians. Is that level of belief and risk-taking from Gurbaaz and Zadran that the rest of Afghanistan’s batting must learn from. 

So yes, this was a landmark tournament for a team that began its cricket journey 20 years ago. Much has been gained, and much has to be gained. Afghanistan’s campaign cannot and will not be denied by the semi-final loss to South Africa. Their wins are not upsets, and with more resilience with the bat they will go onto push more teams in future tournaments. What the 2024 T20 World Cup has done for Afghanistan, only time will tell.