Afghanistan’s Asia Cup 2022 campaign got off to a perfect start as they crushed Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the tournament opener in Dubai last Saturday (August 27).
In their second match, Afghanistan will take on Bangladesh at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (August 30),
Ahead of the game, Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan said that despite participating in many leagues, playing for the national side is always the first priority.
He also added that it is not in their hands if the opponents take them seriously or not.
“We want to play a lot of international cricket that gives youngsters the opportunity to play and get a chance. We all play different leagues but national duty comes first for your country. We want to focus on the next match and not think about the previous match. It is past. It is not in our hands that teams take us seriously or lightly,” Rashid Khan said in a pre-match press conference.
In the opening match, Afghanistan bundled out Sri Lanka for a paltry 105 in 19.4 overs, with Fazalhaq Farooqi (3-11), skipper Mohammad Nabi (2-14) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-24) doing the bulk of the damage with the ball.
In reply, Afghanistan rode on Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 83-run opening stand in just six overs to overhaul the target with 59 deliveries to spare.
“Tomorrow’s conditions in Sharjah are different than what we faced in Dubai. We want to give 100 per cent and enjoy the game. I am not an all-rounder. A player who can bat and ball and can bat in different positions, then it is great,” Rashid said.
“If you have such players like Hardik Pandya in the team then it gives the captain a lot of options. His hard work has paid off. Last year when I played with him, I think he has improved as a captain a lot in IPL. When a player gets such kind of responsibility then it makes him a better player,” he added.
Rashid Khan said the team prepares seriously regardless of the opponent.
“We as players enjoy this kind of format. We are playing in Sharjah after a long time. We never think about any opposition whether it is weak or strong. Tomorrow if you play Hong Kong then the preparation is the same or if it is India then also it is the same,” Khan said.
Afghanistan Squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran, Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Karim Janat, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rashid Khan and Samiullah Shinwari.
(With ANI inputs)
