Afghanistan Cricket Team Shows They Are Getting Stronger

PNG vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2024, Papua New Guinea vs Afghanistan, Afghanistan Cricket Team

March 1, 2025

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Afghanistan Cricket Team Shows They Are Getting Stronger

Even though Afghanistan might not win the Champions Trophy 2025, they have shown everyone how much they have improved. They played a great game against England and won. Before that, they did not play well against South Africa. However, they learned from that game and played much better.

The win against England was not just because of one player. Many players did well. Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai played very well. But, the whole team played well because of their hard work and practice. They have been practicing a lot before the tournament. This practice has helped them become a better team in ODI cricket.

Afghanistan came into the tournament after winning four one-day series in a row. They beat Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. These wins show that Afghanistan is becoming a good ODI team. For a long time, they were known as a good T20 team as many of their players play in T20 leagues around the world. But now, they are showing they can play well in one-day games too. They also played well in the ODI World Cup 2023. This win against England proves they are getting better and better.

Shane McDermott, Afghanistan’s fielding coach, said that their improvement is because of planning and practice. He said that the team has focused on doing the small things well. They have worked on being consistent and confident. Since the one-day World Cup, the team has improved in batting, bowling, and fielding. They have also worked on their fitness and mental strength. They want to play well under pressure. They have practiced the basics, like match simulations and decision-making.

AFG vs SA, Afghanistan vs South Africa

McDermott also said that Afghanistan plans very carefully. They analyze their opponents and make strategies. The bowlers work on specific plans for each batsman. The batsmen learn to play in different conditions. The fielding has become more organized. The team wants to improve, and they work hard to do it.

However, in the game against Australia, Afghanistan’s fielding was not good. They dropped catches and made mistakes. Even Rashid Khan dropped a catch. But, generally, their fielding has improved a lot since the 2023 one-day World Cup. In that World Cup, their fielding cost them games. For example, in the game against Australia, Glenn Maxwell played a great inning of 201 runs. But, if Afghanistan had taken his catches, the game could have been different.

McDermott joined the team after the ODI World Cup 2023. He said that the team lacked confidence in their fielding before. Now, they focus on staying calm and working as a team. They want to keep their energy up for the whole 50 overs. They have a team hunting mentality. They encourage each other and try their best for the team. They also review their field placements and practice catching under pressure.

People often think of Afghanistan as a team that can surprise stronger teams. But, they are no longer a surprise team. They have a lot of talent, and now they have good planning too. They have a lot of potential. The T20 World Cup in 2026, which will be held in India, could be another chance for Afghanistan to show how good they are. They are becoming a dangerous team in white-ball cricket.