Rashid Khan sets sights on T20 World Cup semis for Afghanistan

Afghanistan's cricket team captain Rashid Khan has recently expressed confidence in the team's batting prowess, highlighting the evolution of their lineup and their readiness for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. 

In a recent interview, Rashid acknowledged the team's past struggles in batting but pointed out the significant improvements seen, especially with young talents transitioning from Under-19 cricket to the national side.

"In the past, we were struggling a little bit in the batting area," Rashid said.

"Earlier our bowlers would do a lot more and help us win the games. Later, we got those young batters, especially from the Under-19 cricket, and the way they came up to the national side, and the way they have worked hard, they got the opportunity to play for Afghanistan at a very young age and then start exploring all around the world, playing leagues where they got better and better.

"I think we have that kind of batting line-up where we can say it's fine if there is a target of 200 as well on a wicket. We have that kind of ability and skills and talent that we can express on the ground and chase that. T20 cricket is all about the mindset. As long as you have the right mindset, and you have the belief that we can do, anything is possible.

"The other thing is the actual cricket. I think we have played enough cricket in the past couple of years where our skills have got better and better. And we have been challenging the opposition."

Regarding Afghanistan's chances in Group C of the T20 World Cup, Rashid acknowledged the experts' predictions but maintained a focus on performance over expectations. 

"Yeah, a few people have mentioned Afghanistan is going to be there for semis," he said.

 "We take that as a very positive sign. Earlier, it used to be hard for us to even qualify. And now to be nominated to be there in the top four, I think it's a big thing for us.

"But we don't look at those things a lot. It's all about how we're going to be there on the ground, delivering. We were very nearly in the last [ODI] World Cup semis as well. We were just one game away from being in the semis and that's where I feel the belief started that nothing is impossible for us as a team. So yeah, we are really excited about this World Cup but as I said before we take one game at a time and then see how it goes."

Reflecting on their preparation, Rashid mentioned a domestic T20 competition and a two-week camp in the Caribbean, leveraging the experience of players from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). However, he also stressed the need to adapt to the varying conditions expected in ICC events, highlighting the unpredictability that comes with such tournaments.

"Well, I think preparation has been great so far," Rashid said. "A couple of weeks back, we had a domestic T20 competition, which really helped the guys to get the kind of preparation they need as a player and as a team. And then we were here two weeks earlier as well. So we got the preparation we wanted as a team.

"We have those players who played recently here in the CPL, and they got that experience. And we share that experience with the boys. But I think in the ICC events, you always expect something different. You never know what's going to be the behaviour of the wicket. And you have to react to that. You shouldn't already have in mind that this is how it's going to be, this is how it's going to swing, spin, or things like that," he concluded.