World Cup team guide: Afghanistan. A dark horse galloping in to the light

Afghanistan are no longer minnows. A combination of fresh young talent and an element of the unknown makes them a genuine danger the fancied sides would do well not to underestimate.

Ordinarily, it is the minnows who provide the most intriguing storylines in the lead-up to a World Cup — being introduced to players you’ve never heard of, and learning the incredible stories of overcoming adversity.

Afghanistan are no longer minnows — in fact, they’re a genuine dark horse in 2019 — but they’ve certainly not shed the tag of intrigue.

Boasting some of the most exciting young talents on the planet, Afghanistan is aiming to cause a bunch of upsets at this year’s tournament.

Rashid Khan is more than at home among the galaxy of stars in the IPL.

But that didn’t stop them dropping a bombshell ahead of the ten-team event, sacking their captain of four years in extraordinary fashion — causing a mini revolt from the team’s stars.

Asghar Afghan was axed just two months out from the World Cup, replaced by Gulbadin Naib — prompting Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi to speak out.

Things have simmered down, but it promises to be another step on a remarkable rise for the world’s most underrated team.

It’s worth remembering that four years ago, in their first ever World Cup, Afghanistan notched a couple of milestones — some memorable, some downright forgettable.

Against Sri Lanka, in their second game, they dismissed both opposition openers for golden ducks which was just the second time that had happened in ODI history.

Afghanistan Cricket Board Selection Committee announced Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Find out more: https://t.co/3FecMDpRcB#AfghanAtalan #CWC2019 #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/xCSFmXGLJV

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) April 22, 2019

They backed it up with their first ever win, a nailbiting one-wicket effort over Scotland sealed in the final over.

And then Australia punished them to the tune of the biggest score in World Cup history — an almighty 6-417.

Now, they boast an army of mystery spinners — honestly, what would Australia give to have this number of emerging star spinners? — and a united playing group.

It’s a dangerous combination.

STRENGTHS

Afghanistan’s strength is undeniably in their bevy of mysterious spinners — because it doesn’t stop with Rashid Khan or Mohammad Nabi.

In addition to Rashid — the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler and third-ranked in ODIs — fans of the Brisbane Heat will recognise the qualities of teenage wizard Murjeeb Ur Rahman.

The 18-year-old can bowl both offspin and legspin and is as unpredictable as any tweaker on the planet.

Mohammad Nabi is a known threat but there are other danger men in the Afghan bowling stocks.

Throw in Rahmat Shah and Zahir Khan and, as former captain Asghar Afghan said last year, they’re the best in the world.

Well, Asghar actually said they had better spinners than India — which is pretty much the same thing.

WEAKNESSES

Inexperience on the big stage could be a factor for this young team, although after their stunning performance at last year’s Asia Cup — where they sprung upsets over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh before producing a stunning tie with India — there’s hope that they won’t be overawed.

However the World Cup is a further step up in class, and there’s just a handful of players arriving in the UK leftover from the 2015 edition.

A lack of experience in England, too, could be of concern.

As a nation, Afghanistan has never played a one-day fixture in England — although they have won four from eight in Ireland and two from four in Scotland, in similar conditions to what they might face mid-year.

Afghanistan claimed their first Test win, against Ireland, in their recent, historic meeting.

KEY PLAYERS

Rashid Khan

The most exciting young cricketer on the planet, the best white-ball spinner in the world and man trying to cause a seismic shift in the traditional cricket power rankings.

Just 20 years old, but the gifted leggie wants to take Afghanistan to the top of the world.

And if anyone can make it happen, it’s Khan — the magnificent youngster who helped steer the Adelaide Strikers to a maiden BBL title.

Khan is as frugal as they come, conceding just 3.9 per over in the past two years, and is armed with an arsenal of wicket-taking deliveries — including arguably the best wrong’un on the planet.

Mohammad Nabi

For the moment, this is Afghanistan’s best performed one-day cricketer ever — though it’s a title he’ll shortly pass on to Rashid Khan.

Famously forgot the name of Melbourne Renegades teammate Dan Christian, moments after producing a match-winning partnership with the veteran all-rounder, but really Nabi should be better known as Afghanistan’s greatest ever ODI run-scorer AND second most prolific wicket taker.

A clean-hitting middle order batsman and talented offspinner, the former skipper will play an enormous role if Afghanistan is to

Afghan batsman Hazratullah Zazai is a shout to become the cult hero of the World Cup.

Hazratullah Zazai

It’s not all about the spinners.

Afghanistan are quietly assembling a nice little batting line-up as well.

And while Rahmat Shah is arguably the nation’s most accomplished short-form batsman, with three ODI centuries and an average of 35, but we’re focusing on left-hander Zazai because the upside is impossible to ignore.

The youngster blasted an extraordinary, unbeaten 162 to guide Afghanistan to a history-making T20I score of 3-278 against Ireland — bettering Australia’s 3-262 against Sri Lanka as the biggest ever T20I team score.

Rahmat has the more classical technique, but Zazai can clear the leg and send some long bombs onto the legside. He can be the cult hero of this year’s World Cup.

PREDICTION

Outsiders but will travel to the UK with ambitions that stretch to taking the fourth spot that sees them advance to the semi-final. For all their talent, however, that would still register as a shock, the more likely — and creditable — outcome being a couple of landmark wins over more established sides and still being in the conversation with a couple of matches to go.

FULL SQUAD

Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 1: Australia (Bristol, 10.30pm)

Wednesday, June 4: Sri Lanka (Cardiff, 7.30am)

Saturday, June 8: New Zealand (Taunton, 10.30pm)

Saturday, June 15: South Africa (Cardiff, 10.30pm)

Tuesday, June 18: England (Old Trafford, 7.30am)

Saturday, June 22: India (Southampton, 7.30am)

Monday, June 24: Bangladesh (Southampton, 7.30am)

Saturday, June 29: Pakistan (Headingley, 7.30am)

Thursday, July 4: West Indies (Headingley, 7.30am)

Originally published as World Cup team guide: Afghanistan. A dark horse galloping in to the light