NAGPUR — Afghanistan will hope to catch the West Indies with a hangover Sunday as it looks to sign off from cricket’s World Twenty20 with a much-deserved consolation victory.
West Indies’ captain Darren Sammy said his team would have a party after qualifying for the semifinals with their third straight win of the tournament Friday — a nervy last over victory against South Africa.
So with their opponents’ eyes already on next week’s last four showdown against either India or Australia, the conditions are ripe for Afghanistan to spring an upset in its last match of the tournament.
Afghanistan has won new admirers in India with their aggressive and carefree brand of cricket that has caused some anxious moments for its opponents.
It gave South Africa a fright last weekend when it raced to 105 for two in pursuit of the Proteas’ total of 210, although it was ultimately beaten comfortably after a flurry of wickets.
It also reduced England to 85 for seven at one stage Wednesday before Moeen Ali spared his team’s blushes with a late cameo.
Afghanistan has yet to be beat one of cricket’s big guns but leg-spinner Rashid Khan said they would become more competitive if they get more game time against top opposition.
“When we play more international matches then the improvement will come,” he said after the England match.
“The only thing is, we have to play more matches against these teams.” Afghanistan’s progress in the last few years has been one of cricket’s feel-good stories but after the highs of competing in last year’s 50 over World Cup and the World T20, it has no fixtures against major teams on the horizon once it leaves India.
A victory over the West Indies would consolidate its place in the top 10 of the T20 international rankings and increase its chances of being invited to play more matches.
Rashid is part of a four-pronged spin attack that should relish a Nagpur pitch that turned alarmingly in India’s opener against New Zealand and was still a challenge for the West Indies and South African batsmen Friday.
After just getting over the line against South Africa, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy indicated his team would let its hair down.
“We are really going to celebrate this win because it was a really tough game,” said Sammy, who will ponder whether to give some unused squad members a run-out.
