As Rashid took Scotland’s final two wickets in consecutive balls - Josh Davey with a leg break, and then Brad Wheal with a googly - he will be on a hat-trick when he begins his spell against Namibia next game.īeyond this tournament, the future of Afghan cricket is uncertain. Still, Rashid took the chance to showcase his own mesmerising skills, finishing off Scotland with his own array of leg spinners, top spinners and googlies, generally delivered well over 60mph with impeccable accuracy.

It all meant that when Rashid Khan, the leading spinner in T20 today, came into bowl after the Powerplay Scotland were already 37-5. He is a bowler who defies normal characterisation, so most now simply go with mystery spinner. Mujeeb, a master of bowling in the Powerplay, spun the ball both ways while varying his pace, snared 5-20 with his array of off spin, carrom balls, leg spin and googlies. So it was during their 2021 T20 World Cup debut, as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan shared figures of 9-29 against Scotland.īoth were beguiling. On this evidence, it is one that has a very real chance of reaching the semi-finals in the T20 World Cup.Īfghanistan’s rise has largely been authored by their brilliant phalanx of spinners. In the 17 years since starting to play international cricket, Afghanistan have assembled a fine cricket team. Yet as Afghanistan’s jubilant players embraced in Sharjah after crushing Scotland by 130 runs in their opening World Cup match, it was a reminder of the other thing that Afghanistan has become renowned for, beside its painful history: cricket. Their return has precipitated a profound humanitarian crisis - many have been killed for working with the previous American regime, thousands of refugees have fled the country and, as repression against women has escalated, girls have been barred from attending schools. In the eight months since Afghanistan played their last game of international cricket, the Taliban have recaptured the country. In their first match since the Taliban's takeover of the country Afghanistan looked a polished outfit who could reach the latter stages Afghanistan make triumphant return to international cricket with 130-run T20 World Cup win over Scotland

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