Afghanistan cricket team has left a huge mark in the ongoing World Cup in India. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side has won three out of six matches in the marquee event so far.
As a result, Afghanistan occupy the fifth spot on the points table, ahead of World Cup-winning teams like England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Interestingly, Afghanistan’s three wins have come against the aforementioned teams. They stunned defending champions England in Delhi with a 69-run victory before defeating Pakistan by eight wickets at Chepauk.
On Monday (October 30), Afghanistan outplayed Sri Lanka in all facets of the game to register a convincing seven-wicket victory at MCA Stadium in Pune.
Following the win, ICC shared a video of the Afghan team huddle on Instagram, where Rashid Khan could be seen giving a motivational pep talk.
It was before the game that the star leg-spinner addressed his teammates, asking them to fight every ball and give their 100 per cent on the field.
“Remember these three things. Firstly, every ball we fight, if it’s our batting, if it’s our bowling or if it’s our fielding. Our only focus should be to fight it out with the other team. Don’t think about the outcome or whether we will win or not focus on the finer details instead and these finer details will paint the bigger picture. Fight for every ball,” Rashid said.
“Even if I come out to bowl later on no matter how wet the ball is I will put in my 100% effort for the team because if I think that the ball is too wet. I won’t be able to bowl well and automatically, I will concede runs because mentally, I would probably give up. So whether we ball first or second in every moment we will trust ourselves and will put in 100% effort. Thousands pray for us and watch our matches only to see Afghanistan win and triumph because cricket is the only thing that brings joy and happiness in Afghanistan.”
“So as a team we shouldn’t take the pressure, we only focus on the effort. Everyone wants to see that effort not just the result but a real honest effort. So as a team, we will get in and put in the effort and we also make sure of the biggest thing that we keep smiling Go on boys,” he added.
Afghanistan’s next match is scheduled against Netherlands in Lucknow on Friday (November 3).
