"Grit, determination, ambition": How Afghanistan made it so far in the ICC World Cup
Cricket expert Ayaz Memon breaks down how the Afghan team managed to take down cricket giants like England and Pakistan
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00:00 Hi, I'm Ayaz Memon with the World Cup Update.
00:02 The most fascinating story for me and I suppose for all cricket fans has been Afghanistan's
00:08 journey in this tournament.
00:11 A minocide which was not expected to remain in contention till now.
00:15 It's still in contention for a place in the semifinals.
00:17 It's tough.
00:18 They might not make it or most likely they will not make it.
00:23 But even so to remain in contention now and you know they need a little help from divinity.
00:28 See how the other matches pan out with a little luck from that.
00:31 You know they could still make the cut.
00:32 But even so, even if they don't, look at what they've achieved.
00:36 Beating England, beating Pakistan.
00:38 These are you know former world champions.
00:40 In fact England were the defending champions.
00:42 So to get past these teams was not a piece of cake.
00:47 How have they done it?
00:48 And I think I just need to kind of quickly explain this.
00:52 One, they were blessed or they are blessed with extremely fine spinners.
00:59 Rashid Khan, Mohammad Labi, Mujibur Rahman, Noor Ahmed.
01:04 Spin was their strength.
01:05 But what we've seen in their tournament, the spinners have performed well.
01:08 But what we've seen in this tournament is that the fast bowlers have also started doing
01:11 well.
01:12 Picking up wickets at the start, bowling well at the death and then the batting.
01:16 From number one to number seven, they're all consistently producing runs.
01:20 One or the other, striking up partnerships, playing match winning knocks.
01:24 Batting was never their strength.
01:26 Afghanistan's strength.
01:27 So I mean these are new developments which have happened over the past couple of years.
01:31 Fielding has been brilliant against Netherlands.
01:34 Yes, another Minnow team but four run outs.
01:36 And it showed how the drills across departments have been excellent for Afghanistan.
01:43 So obviously the coaching staff deserves a lot of credit.
01:47 So do the players for applying themselves.
01:50 The support staff that has kept these players fit most of the time.
01:53 But I think the one attribute which to me seems to be the bedrock on which Afghanistan's
02:01 success in this tournament has been built or in cricket in fact, is grit, determination
02:08 and deep ambition.
02:09 They are very doughty.
02:10 They don't give up.
02:11 They are very determined.
02:12 They don't get fazed by the name and the reputation of the opponents.
02:18 And they are deeply ambitious because they see this as an opportunity to make a mark.
02:25 We all know they come from the background from which they come from.
02:28 I don't need to repeat that.
02:30 But they are using this deep ambition to go out and play and perform to their best because
02:35 they know that it just opens up so many vistas for them and their countrymen.
02:39 I can tell you and the team spirit.
02:41 They are so cohesive.
02:42 There is no unit which I think is as cohesive as the Afghans and especially under pressure.
02:47 In the match against Netherlands, Rashid Khan pulled a side, had a side strain, went back
02:52 into the dressing room.
02:53 By that, at that point in time, Afghanistan was struggling, leaking runs, not getting
02:58 ahead.
03:00 Back comes Rashid Khan, has a huddle, gives a pep talk and things change dramatically.
03:05 Now this is the kind of camaraderie and spirit which has brought them this far.
03:09 As I mentioned at the start, we don't know where they will finish, whether they will
03:14 be in the semis or not.
03:15 But what they have achieved so far has been absolutely memorable.
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