'When I was batting, I realised the wicket wasn't supportive for batters against spinners. I told the boys that 280-290 would be enough when I got back into the dressing room. I want to say that the belief, trust and talent is there.'
While wickets fell all around him with fellow opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as well as Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah all back in the hut inside the first ten overs, Gurbaz kept his cool.
'I can see the world's concern. I am concerned. I have daughters who play cricket.'
A spirited Afghanistan upset Sri Lanka by seven wickets to continue their memorable campaign at World Cup 2023.
After playing a major role in Chennai Super Kings' IPL triumph, young pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana will be hoping to make the same impact for Sri Lanka in the ODI series against Afghanistan.
What each team from Group B needs to do to make the semis.
Joe Root's century in vain as England were shown the door.
Teenage Afghanistan off-spinner AM Ghazanfar has been ruled out of both the ICC Champions Trophy and the IPL due to a lower back fracture.
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Noor Ahmad will join Rashid and Nabi in Afghanistan's formidable spin attack, which is likely to be key to their performance in the 20-team tournament.
Australian opener Matthew Short suffered an injury while fielding but he returned to open the batting and Smith said he could take a few days to recover.
Steyn feels playing four-day first-class cricket could teach the Afghanistan players how to build their innings, which will also help them improve their game in the 50-over format.
Coach Jonathan Trott rued the missed chances, but took pride in the way Afghanistan were able to win matches in this World Cup with not just their bowling and hoped to have a bigger pool of players going forward.
Captain Temba Bavuma hailed what he termed South Africa's brave decision to bat first in their comprehensive 107-run Champions Trophy win over Afghanistan on Friday
Afghanistan (6 points) will not only look to secure two points against the Dutch (4 points) but also aim to win big and improve the net run-rate
Bangladesh eye an improved performance from their batters in their 2nd group match against Afghanistan on Sunday in the Asia Cup 2023.
South Africa bounced back from two heavy defeats to beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the third and final One-Day International in Sharjah on Sunday.
Pathum Nissanka on Friday became the first Sri Lanka batter to score a men's ODI double hundred.
Defeat will severely dent both the teams' dreams of a semi-final berth in the tournament, as South Africa and Australia have already notched two points.
The setback against Afghanistan leaves the Lankans with little room for error, needing them to win all three of their remaining games, including the tough match against tournament hosts India next up, to have any hope of reaching the last four.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
IMAGES from the Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan played in Lahore on Sunday
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said Chennai is a familiar venue for his team.
Australia's historic pedigree in cricket's biggest tournaments will count for nothing when they run into an Afghanistan side that is fast cementing its place in the game's top table in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Friday.
Their campaign back on track after the humiliating loss in the opener, title holders England would look for a dominating all-round effort against a battered Afghanistan in the World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday, with eyes firmly set on bettering their net run rate.
Images from the ICC Champions League Group B match between Afghanistan and Australia in Lahore, on Friday.
Navigating their way through extreme pressure moments in their tournament opener, India will be eyeing a perfect game against a sprightly Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup match in Delhi on Wednesday.
Chance for Bangladesh, Afghanistan to produce that one breakout performance
We executed our plans really well, especially pacers: Shakib
Ireland claimed their first Test victory when they beat fellow minnows Afghanistan by six wickets on Friday in a one-off match in Abu Dhabi.
Afghanistan easily beat Sri Lanka in the World Cup match in Pune on Monday and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was quick to attribute his team's confidence to the triumphant run-chase against Pakistan.
Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag when the two sides kick-off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday.
Chasing a competitive 258 for victory, Pakistan overhauled the target with just three balls to spare with former captain Shoaib Malik (51 off 43 balls) getting the winning runs.
Afghanistan batsman Hashmatullah Shahidi hit an unbeaten 74 as the World Cup underdogs stunned former champions Pakistan to win by three wickets with two balls to spare in a thrilling warm-up match in Bristol on Friday.
It means there are two players from India inside the top 10 for fielding ratings, with Australia the only other side to have Warner (third) and Glenn Maxwell (eighth) among the top 10.
IMAGES from the World Cup match played between England and Afghanistan in Delhi on Sunday.
PHOTOS from the ICC World Cup match between India and Afghanistan played in New Delhi on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Chennai on Monday.
Pakistan tailender Naseem Shah cut down Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi in the final over of a cliff-hanger once again on Thursday.
World Cup hosts India cantered to their second successive win of the tournament after captain Rohit Sharma's incendiary century set up their eight-wicket thrashing of Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Shahidi is well aware that Afghanistan can't go deep in the tournament relying solely on the spinners. The batters must step up.
