Afghanistan should now aim to win Asia Cup: Wasim Jaffer

Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer on September 3, Saturday, said that Afghanistan must aim to win the Asia Cup 2022. Afghanistan have been one of the best sides in the tournament so far winning two games out of two and also becoming the first team to qualify for Super 4.

Afghanistan, who were in Group B with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, registered two emphatic wins over their oppositions with complete all-round performances in the two games. In their first game against Sri Lanka, which was the tournament opener, they announced their arrival with a strong bowling performance, bowling out the hosts for only 105 in 19.4 overs. 

The damage was initially done by the left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who bagged three wickets for 11 runs with one maiden in 3.4 overs. And the spinners Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman also chipped in with two wickets each. Afghanistan later teed off, by completing the chase in only 10.1 overs, losing only two wickets. The dangerous opening combination of Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 83 runs in the six-over powerplay and left very little for the rest of the batters.

Afghanistan should make big statement instead of causing upsets: Wasim Jaffer

In Afghanistan’s second game, Nabi’s side yet again put up a dominant display of bowling, holding Bangladesh for only 127 runs in 20 overs. The popular spin twins, Mujeeb and Rashid Khan, took three wickets each and always kept the game in their grasp. In the second innings, the Afghanis, yet again, came out with intent and took the game to the opposition. The middle-order pairing of Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran contributed with unbeaten 42 and 43 runs respectively, and completed the chase in 18.3 overs.

“Afghanistan should now aim to win the Asia Cup and make a big statement instead of just causing upsets,” said Jaffer via 'BatBricks7 presents Run Ki Runneeti' on CricTracker. Afghanistan are currently up against Sri Lanka and are flaunting a sturdy batting show.