Renowned Sri Lanka-based cricket broadcaster Roshan Abeysinghe has made a bold prediction about Afghanistan becoming one of the T20 WC 2024 finalists.
The Afghanistani team, which is playing its 5th T20 World Cup edition in 2024, has experienced a very successful run in the Group stages. Placed along with co-hosts West Indies, New Zealand, first-timers Uganda, and Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan have won all 3 of their first 3 group matches.
But Afghanistan caused the biggest upside down by defeating the 2021 runners-up New Zealand in their first Group D game. Then they won their matches against Uganda and PNG to join West Indies as the second team to reach the Super 8s stage. It is going to be their 4th appearance in the second round of a T20 World Cup.
In their previous participations, the Asians have been knocked out of the 2nd round but in this edition, given their form, Afghanistan can take their chance. Their ties against India and Australia are confirmed in the Super 8s and their third opponents in the next round are yet to be determined.
In 3 days, Afghanistan will be aiming to make sure they finish the Group stages on top of Group D before preparing for the Super 8s. Ahead of the second round, former Sri Lanka domestic cricketer Roshan Abeysinghe has made a bold claim.
What did Roshan Abeysinghe say about Afghanistan’s chances?
While speaking in a recent interview, Roshan Abeysinghe spoke about the uncertainty of this T20 World Cup edition in the USA and West Indies. Roshan claimed that the 20-team tournament has been full of surprises. He admitted that Group stage exits of teams like Pakistan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka among others were a testament to the associate nation’s rise in the cricketing world.
After seeing the unpredictability of the T20 WC, Roshan Abeysinghe said is obliged to make a huge statement that Afghanistan are certain to reach the final. He did say that his prediction can be wrong as it is the T20 format but the Afghanis will at least reach the last match of the event even if they don’t end up winning it.
“The current T20 World Cup has been full of surprises, to say the least! The elimination of fancied teams in the first round, the remarkable efforts of some of the associate teams, and their progress, with the added suspense created by the “unpredictability” factor, have all made this event a remarkable one!” - Abeysinghe said.
“With the very unpredictability factor being prevalent in a big way, I am inclined to make a prediction, despite what is going horribly wrong so far! And my prediction to win or at least to reach the final would be Afghanistan! Let’s see.” - Roshan Abeysinghe concluded.
Rashid Khan’s men to face India in first Super 8 match
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan’s men are all set to face India on June 20th in their first Super 8 match after facing West Indies in their last group match.
Source: Cricket Addictor
--Agencies
