Prior to Afghanistan’s memorable seven-wicket win in opposition to Sri Lanka within the thirtieth match of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on Monday, star Afghani all-rounder Rashid Khan gave an inspiring speech to his team-mates pushing them to combat for each run. In a video shared by ICC on their social media deal with, Rashid Khan is seen inspiring his staff and telling them that their solely focus ought to be to combat it out with the opposite staff.
“Remember these three things. Firstly, every ball we fight, if it’s our batting, if it’s our bowling or if it’s our fielding. Our only focus should be to fight it out with the other team. Don’t think about the outcome or whether we will win or not focus on the finer details instead and these finer details will paint the bigger picture. Fight for every ball,” Rashid Khan mentioned.
Rashid Khan added that hundreds pray for them and watch their matches solely to see Afghanistan win and triumph, since cricket is the one factor that brings pleasure and happiness there.
“Even if I come out to bowl later on no matter how wet the ball is I will put in my 100% effort for the team because if I think that the ball is too wet. I won’t be able to bowl well and automatically, I will concede runs because mentally, I would probably give up. So whether we ball first or second in every moment we will trust ourselves and will put in 100% effort. Thousands pray for us and watch our matches only to see Afghanistan win and triumph because cricket is the only thing that brings joy and happiness in Afghanistan,” the Afghan star mentioned.
Rashid eggs on his staff to make it a combat in each sport, however all the time with a smile. “So as a team we shouldn’t take the pressure, we only focus on the effort. Everyone wants to see that effort not just the result but a real honest effort. So as a team, we will get in and put in the effort and we also make sure of the biggest thing that we keep smiling Go on boys,” Rashid mentioned.
In the match, Afghanistan put Sri Lanka to bat first. The Lankan Lions misplaced their wickets at common intervals. Knocks from Pathum Nissanka (46 in 60 balls, with 5 fours), Kusal Mendis (39 in 50 balls, with three fours) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (36 in 40 balls, with three fours) took SL to 241 of their 49.3 overs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/34) was the choose of the bowlers for Afghanistan. Mujeeb took two scalps whereas Rashid and Azmatullah Omarzai took a wicket every. In the second inning, whereas chasing 242 runs, half-centuries from Azmatullah Omarzai (73 not out in 63 balls, with six fours and three sixes), Rahmat Shah (62 in 74 balls, with seven fours) and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (58 not out in 74 balls, with two fours and a six) helped Afghanistan seal a win.
Following the win in opposition to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan stand at fifth place with six factors after successful three out of their six video games.
