Win over England can kick-start Afghanistan cricket, says coach Jonathan Trott
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Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of England's Harry Brook in New Delhi, on Oct 15.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW DELHI – Afghanistan’s remarkable 69-run win over defending champions England at the Cricket World Cup will give them the belief they can go toe-to-toe with cricket’s leading nations for years to come, their English coach Jonathan Trott said.
Afghanistan posted 284 after half-centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil, before bowling out England for 215 to claim just their second victory at a World Cup – eight years after their maiden win over Scotland.
“This is significant, certainly in the manner and by the margin as well,” Trott said on Sunday.
“There’s a lot of confidence that will hopefully come from this when competing against the bigger nations.
“It’ll have a knock-on effect to all the other games, not only in this World Cup, but for the future as well.
“What Afghanistan cricket can achieve, hopefully this will be the sort of kick-start.”
After the win, spinner Rashid Khan said he hoped the victory would put a smile on the faces of people back in Afghanistan, where multiple earthquakes have killed around 1,000 and injured over 2,000.
Women’s sport in Afghanistan has also suffered since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
“It’s not just cricket that the guys are playing for,” Trott said.
“The guys are very knowledgeable of the hardship that some people are going through because of the natural disaster and for various other reasons.
“If this can give a smile to people’s faces anywhere in the world, but also encourage boys and girls to pick up a cricket bat or a cricket ball and get playing wherever they are in Afghanistan, then that’s sort of the goal that’s been achieved.”
Afghanistan next face New Zealand in Chennai on Wednesday, while England are up against South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday.
England captain Jos Buttler has called on his players to show resilience and character in the wake of the stunning loss.
It has put their World Cup title defence on shaky ground. England are fifth in the group standings with one win from three matches after the 69-run defeat, having been thrashed by New Zealand in their opening match.
The top four at the end of the round-robin phase advance to the semi-finals.
Afghanistan’s Ikram Alikhil celebrates after Rashid Khan bowls out England’s Mark Wood to win the match on Oct 15.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Buttler said the Afghanistan result was a “big setback”.
“Before the tournament started, we had a different idea of how the first three games would pan out,” he said.
“We’ve got to show a lot of character, a lot of resilience within the team and most of all a lot of belief.
“There are a lot of excellent players in there and we haven’t played well enough today, but we must keep that belief.”
Winners of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, England hold both the global white-ball trophies but have yet to impress in the sub-continent. REUTERS
