Afghanistan defeated legendary sides New Zealand and Australia en route to the semis of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA.
When it comes to World Cups, undoubtedly some names surface in our heads, and one of them genuinely includes the mighty Australians. But what say if you hear that the mighty Aussies have been ripped off their semi-final spot by a valiant Afghan side? Yes, this is the summary of the last four of the T20 World Cup in 2024.
From the start of the major World Cup in India in 2023, Afghanistan have always fancied their chances for the semi-final spots. They defeated the defending champions England, subcontinent favorites Sri Lanka, and rivals Pakistan in the World Cup before they fancied their chances into the semis with a nearing win against Australia.
Only for Maxwell’s historic innings that they were snubbed off their semi-final spot. However, Rashid, the Afghan skipper for the USA World Cup, was confident enough to see his team enter the knockouts of the World Cup.
After a great win over the Kiwis in the early group stage face-off, Afghanistan fixed their chances into the Super-8. Placed alongside heavyweights India and Australia, the Asian underdogs did not seem to have much chance to go ahead.
However, it was Rashid who kept full faith in his team, and so did the ex-English cricketer Trott. After facing a major setback against the Men in Blue, the Afghans stepped forward in an exclusive encounter against the Kangaroos.
After a major opening partnership, Afghanistan posted a total of nearly 150 before Naveen, Farooqi, and Rashid, alongside other bowlers, once again stepped up and broke the back of the Aussie batting order. Early dismissals of Head, Warner, and skipper Marsh landed Australia in early trouble. They faced more problems with the departure of Marcus Stoinis, until Afghanistan’s nightmare, Glenn Maxwell once again seemed to take the game away from the clutches of the Afghans. However, it was his dismissal that turned the game a 360 degree to create history for Cricket Afghanistan, who defeated the Aussies for the first time in international T20s.
ALSO READ: BCCI ALLOWED TO HELP AFGHANISTAN GROWTH:AFGHANISTAN TO HOST BANGLADESH FOR ODI,T20I MATCH SERIES IN GREATER NOIDA
The Aussies, after a thrashing defeat at the hands of the Men in Blue, who seemed hungry for revenge after their disheartening loss in the World Cup final late in 2023, ended their chances in the cup. Afghanistan now seemed to be at the top of their world as they had to get past a feeble Bangladesh side, but was that as easy as it seemed?
No, that would be the answer, and it is evident from the game played today. The Afghans seemed to slip in the batting department as they posted 115 runs total. In a severely rain-affected match, the Bangladeshi wickets seemed to fall like dried leaves, as the Afghan skipper seemed to be in the hunt as he turned the game on with his 4-fer.
Litton Kumar Das held his nerve for Bangladesh, and the game seemed to get on our nerves until Naveen struck twice in the 18th over of the game to create history for Afghanistan cricket and give them their first major entry into the last four of an ICC World Cup. This day would remain encrypted in golden words in the history of Afghanistan cricket.