Shahidi Ready for Tough Challenge Against England in CT
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Synopsis
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi acknowledges the tough challenge posed by England in the Champions Trophy but remains hopeful about his team's chances, emphasizing confidence from past victories and the need for hard work to secure a semi-final spot.
Key Takeaways
- Shahidi expresses confidence despite tough competition.
- Afghanistan’s previous victory over England boosts morale.
- Recognition from experts doesn’t guarantee success.
- Batting first may enhance chances of winning.
- Spinners need better support on the pitch.
Lahore, Feb 25 (NationPress) Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stated that the upcoming Champions Trophy match against England presents a significant challenge, but he remains optimistic about their capability to secure a victory to maintain their hopes for the semi-finals.
Afghanistan's tournament began poorly, suffering a loss to South Africa by 107 runs in their first match. A second defeat against England would likely lead to their elimination from the eight-team event.
On the other hand, England also faced a setback in their opening game against Australia, despite scoring 351 runs.
Afghanistan previously stunned England in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, pulling off a remarkable upset. Shahidi noted that while this past victory boosts their confidence, the forthcoming match is a new beginning, and they will strive to achieve a similar outcome.
“In 2023 we performed well against England and secured a win. We carry that confidence with us, but that is history. We must approach the match with a fresh mindset and new strategies. We all recognize that England is one of the premier teams. It’s a tough challenge, but we are ready to face any obstacle,” Shahidi conveyed to reporters ahead of the match.
The captain acknowledged the morale boost from receiving accolades from cricketing legends and analysts but stressed that such recognition does not equate to guaranteed success.
“It’s gratifying when experts and legends speak positively about our team. It instills confidence, but their predictions do not ensure outcomes. Even if they believe we can reach the semi-finals, we must still put in the effort on the field to realize that goal,” he remarked.
Shahidi emphasized the fierce competition in the Champions Trophy, where Afghanistan encounters the world’s top eight ranked teams.
“As I mentioned, the Champions Trophy features elite teams across the globe. Facing them is a significant challenge. While these accolades boost our confidence, we must consistently deliver our best performance to overcome these teams,” he added.
When questioned about whether batting first would benefit Afghanistan and allow their strong bowling unit to defend totals, Shahidi concurred that setting a target often improves their chances.
“I believe batting first enhances our opportunities,” Shahidi acknowledged. “However, we have also achieved victories batting second in the last World Cup and in subsequent bilateral series.”
Reflecting on Afghanistan's outing against South Africa, Shahidi noted the lack of support for spinners, making it challenging for their bowling unit to restrict the opposition.
“In the match against South Africa, the pitch seemed to favor fast bowlers,” Shahidi commented.
He also recognized that Afghanistan’s batting lacked early momentum.
“When our spinners bowled, there was no assistance for them. I didn’t observe a single ball turning. Therefore, our batting performance was subpar, especially in the initial 20 overs,” he explained.
“While this isn’t an excuse, it’s known that we possess quality spinners,” he added.
Afghanistan and England will compete at the National Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
