Cricket World Cup 2023 | Back-to-back wickets had put us under pressure in first two games, says Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi
The Hindu
Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan skipper, acknowledges team's batting issues and vows to improve. Tom Latham, New Zealand captain, backs his side to make it four wins on the trot, wary of Afghan bowling attack. Shahidi feels team has an edge due to familiarity with India conditions.
Afghanistan may still be basking in the glory after its historic 69-run win over England in the ongoing World Cup, but skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi did not shy away from addressing his team’s underlying issues here.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match against New Zealand on Tuesday, Shahidi said, “I’m not completely satisfied with our batting as back-to-back wickets had put us under pressure in the first two games, and even against England.
“We discussed the problem and agreed that we needed to improve on this area by not crumbling under pressure.”
Afghanistan lost six wickets for just 76 runs against England.
“We are doing very well in the top order but must also show responsibility in the middle order. We need to be mentally strong, and everyone, particularly the middle-order batters, need to perform if we are to win,” said Shahidi.
“The first two games didn’t go our way, but, we still had the belief. The win over England will give a lot of confidence to our team,” he added.
Although the Afghans will be playing their first international match in Chennai, Shahidi feels his team has an edge.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.