Afghanistan were clueless about the post equation, says head coach
ACC
|| CF DESK ||
Ireland cancels Afghanistan series due to budget constraints
12 Mar 25
Needing to overhaul a target of 292 in 37.1 overs to oust Sri Lanka on net run-rate in the ongoing Asia Cup, Afghanistan fell agonisingly short as Mujeeb Ur Rahman holed out with three needed from the first ball of the 38th over.
Sri Lanka outlasted the Afghanistan scare by just two runs in a dramatic finish to reach the Asia Cup Super Four stage on Tuesday.
They could still have qualified by reaching 295 within 37.4 overs but appeared to not be aware of that permutation as number 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi blocked out two deliveries before being dismissed while attempting another defensive shot with six needed to go through.
Rashid Khan hit three boundaries off Dunith Wellalage's 37th over, but off the first ball of the next over Mujeeb was caught on the boundary.
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said in the press conference after the game that they were only aware of the 37.1 equation not about the second math.
Young Tigers defend U19 Asia Cup title after beating India
8 Dec 24
“We were never communicated those calculations. All we communicated was 37.1, we had to win in. We weren't communicated about if we got it was at 295 or whatever it was. That was never communicated with us,” said Trott.
Afghanistan were struggling in the 20th over on 129-4 but Mohammad Nabi started to hit out and the situation changed as they added 96 in the next 10 overs.
Nabi, who put on 80 for the fifth wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi, cracked five sixes and six fours to help Afghanistan get back on track, hitting the fastest ODI half-century for his country off just 24 balls.
Nabi holed out off Maheesh Theekshana in the 27th over but Shahidi and Karim Janat (22) kept up the tempo, adding 33 before they both fell in the same over from Wellalage.
Despite the double blow, Afghanistan did not give up as Najibullah Zadran (23) and Rashid (27 not out) kept them in contention.
But in a dramatic finish, the Afghan camp did not realise their hopes were still alive once Mujeeb was dismissed and Sri Lanka progressed.
