Afghanistan missed out on the Asia Cup 2023 Super-4 berth due to a blunder in understanding the qualification scenario during a thrilling chase against Sri Lanka in Lahore on September 5.
It was a must-win game for Afghanistan as they had lost the opening match to Bangladesh by 89 runs. They not only needed a win but faced a tricky scenario to make it to the Super 4s based on Net Run Rate.
Afghanistan needed to chase down Sri Lanka’s target of 292 in more than 37.1 overs but they were not aware of it.
"We were never communicated those calculations," said Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott in the post-match press conference.
"All we were communicated was we needed to win in 37.1 overs. We weren't told what the overs in which we could get 295 or 297. [That we could win in] 38.1 overs was never communicated to us," he added.
Chasing the target, Afghanistan kept themselves in the hunt on the back of a stunning knock from Mohammad Nabi (65 off 32 balls). Rashid Khan took the matter into his hands after Nabi's dismissal and he brought the equation down to 15 off 7 balls.
Rashid displayed his big-hitting prowess under pressure as he smashed Dunith Wellalage for three boundaries in the 37th over.
However, in the first delivery of the 38th over, Afghanistan lost their ninth wicket as Mujeeb Ur Rahman tried to clear a boundary but was caught at long-on in Dhananjaya de Silva's over.
It was clear that Afghanistan were unaware of the second qualification scenario. Hence, Mujeeb attempted a big shot and No. 11 batter Fazalhaq Farooqi refused to take a single and get Rashid back on strike.
Afghanistan could have given themselves extra deliveries by scoring 293 in 37.2 overs, 294 in 37.3, 295 in 37.5, 296 in 38 overs, or 297 in 38.1 overs. All these scenarios would have put them in the Super-4 stage.
As it turned out, Farooqi was adjudged LBW in the fourth delivery of the 38th over as Afghanistan were bowled out for 289, losing the match by two runs and also bowed out of the competition.
"I don't think there's one reason we lost the game," Trott said. "There are areas of the game we could have done better [in] and that goes for today's game and the one against Bangladesh. We got some things horribly wrong in a few areas and it's cost us. It'd be nice if we'd bowled them out a bit cheaper. But it wasn't to be."
With this nervy win, Sri Lanka joined India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the Super-4 stage of the tournament.
Pakistan and Bangladesh will square off in the first Super-4 match in Lahore on Wednesday (September 6).
(Hindustan Times Inputs)
