ICC World Cup 2019: 3 Reasons why Afghanistan will reach the semi-final of the tournament

The remarkable rise of Afghanistan cricket is often referred to as a cricketing fairy tale. It’s the enchanting story of the triumph of the human spirit. Ten years ago who would have even thought that a war-ridden country will rise from the ashes and emerge as a cricketing powerhouse? It’s a story that shows the importance and power of a mere sport that can transform the lives of the people.

All doubts about the rise and emergence of Afghanistan cricket were cleared in last year’s Asia Cup. They started it with a first-ever win against Sri Lanka and followed it with by trashing the Bangladesh team. They lost against Pakistan but were appreciated for their competitive effort against their neighbours. They finished their remarkable tournament with a tie against the Indians and proved that they are here to stay and there are better days to come in the future for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan managed to win the 2019 World Cup qualifiers when the odds were stacked against them and their same ability to fight until the end gives the team a chance to shine in the World Cup.

Here we look at the three reasons why they can qualify for the semi-final of the mega event:

1. Experienced trio of Nabi, Rashid and Mujeeb

In big tournaments and in crucial matches experience plays a major role and can be the difference between the two teams in a close encounter. The Afghanistan players, especially the trio of Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, have been in high demand across the globe and have participated in almost all major T20 leagues.

Their experience of playing in different conditions can be really useful for the Afghanistan team. These players can share their knowledge and experience to the other players in the team and can also play an important part in making some tactical decisions for the World Cup. The likes of Nabi and Rashid are literally veterans now and it would be no surprise if the duo manages to win them a few games on their own.