Red-hot Afghans leave their mark

Knocked out Lanka, tied with India, came close to winning Super-4 games vs Pak, Bangladesh

Tie vs India as good as a victory: Afghan 

To pull off a tie against a team like India is as good as a victory, said Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, who felt his unfancied side would have been in the Asia Cup final had they played their league matches in Dubai instead of Abu Dhabi. “When you tie a match with a side like India, it’s just like a win. India have chased easily in the last two games but we made it tough for them. Such tough games are good for the fans as well,” said Afghan. Afghanistan came into the game after losing two close games against Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier in the Super-4. They had comprehensively beaten Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the group stage, reaffirming their rapid rise in international cricket.

India’s stand-in captain MS Dhoni,  who became the third player to captain his country in 200 or more ODIs, was magnanimous in his praise for Afghanistan. “Their cricket has improved a lot. The way they have continued from the start of the Asia Cup, it is commendable and we have enjoyed their cricket. It is one country that has risen through the ranks very well,” Dhoni said. 

Dhoni felt that Afghanistan excelled in all departments of the game. “They batted extremely well. The wicket slowed down later, but they bowled extremely well throughout the game and their fielding was tight too.” Dhoni was quick to point out that India were not playing their full-strength side also needed to be factored in. “I wouldn’t say we went wrong in the chase. To start off, it was like a handicap in golf. We didn’t go with a full-strength side,” he said.