Star Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan is determined to perform well in the ICC World Cup 2019 and show the world that the Afghan side is not just good on paper. The Asian side will depend on its global stars like Rashid, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi to have a successful World Cup.
The top 8 of the ten World Cup teams had qualified directly based on their ICC ODI Team Rankings. However, Afghanistan and West Indies qualified after playing the finals of the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2018 where the former beat the latter.
Afghanistan will be up against the world’s best ODI teams and will have to fight hard to qualify for the semi-final stage. Since the World Cup is going to have a round-robin stage, each team will face every other team.
The Advertiser quoted Rashid saying, “It is time for us to deliver something. That will be the main target. We prepared hard for it. It doesn't make sense that we are happy Afghanistan who got the opportunity to be playing at the World Cup. Our aim is we are not just going to participate in the World Cup, we need to do something different.”
“We have the skills, everything. We won't have as much experience at the World Cup as other teams but we have to take advantage of our talent and play well in a big situation,” he added.
They had planned the same thing in the Asia Cup to play good cricket against best teams which will prove their mettle to the team. They will be following that plan in the mega tournament as well.
The 20-year-old said, “We need to show the world we are not only good on paper. That was the plan for Asia Cup and will be for World Cup as well. We didn't do well in the past under pressure but I think this World Cup it is about beating big teams and play good cricket like we did in the Asia Cup.”
Rashid played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League recently. He managed to take 17 wickets in 15 matches in the tournament. He will have to switch formats and change his plans to bowl to different batsmen in the 50-over format.
He said, “I will have more time to get a batsman out, switch off T20 and switch on ODI. It doesn't need to change your skills or slower the ball. You need to be the same rhythm, energy, bowling, and speed. You just need to be more consistent with your line and length.”
(Inputs from Reuters)
