Afghanistan Captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed pride in the team’s achievements in this year’s Cricket World Cup and stated that they have the potential to do even better. However, their chances of semi-final qualification took a hit after New Zealand’s win against Sri Lanka on Thursday. Following New Zealand’s win, Afghanistan is on the verge of elimination from the tournament. To secure a place in the semi-finals, they would need to achieve a remarkable 438-run win against South Africa, a daunting task.

Notably, Afghanistan came close to a historic win against Australia in their last match but were defeated due to Glenn Maxwell’s exceptional performance. Shahidi expressed a sense of pride in the team’s accomplishments thus far but acknowledged that more was expected from them. Despite the potential of being eliminated, the team remains focused on finishing the group stage on a positive note and learning from their errors to face South Africa with determination. Their remarkable progress in the tournament, securing wins against former champions like England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, reflects Afghanistan’s growth in ODI cricket.

Afghanistan’s rise in ODI cricket has earned recognition, as they have demonstrated the ability to compete among the best teams. South African batter, Dan Miller, praised Afghanistan’s performance in the World Cup, highlighting their growth and achievements. Afghanistan will face South Africa in their next match, aiming to end the tournament on a strong note, though they face an uphill battle to secure a place in the semi-finals. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event.