It is only the second time Afghanistan Cricket team will play in a World Cup. They qualified for the 2019 World Cup by finishing in the top two of the ICC World Cup qualifiers played in Zimbabwe in 2018. Eventually, they defeated Windies in the final of the tournament and won the qualifiers.
In the 2018 Asia Cup held in UAE, Afghanistan defeated top teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the group stage.
In the Super 4 stage, they gave a tough fight to top Asian teams like Pakistan, Bangladesh and then tied the match against the Indians. Before the World Cup 2019, they sacked their regular captain Asghar Stankzai and made Gulbadin Naib as the captain of the team.
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They have some top-quality players in their team which can change the course of the game and could prove crucial to their chances in the prestigious 2019 World Cup.
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Afghanistan will take on Australia in their opening match of the tournament on 1st June.
Here we look at the 5 key Afghanistan players to watch out for in World Cup 2019:-
1. Mohammad Shahzad
The explosive right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, Mohammad Shahzad can change the course of the game with his aggressive batting. He made his One-day international debut on 30th August 2009 against the Netherlands.
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He has played 79 One day internationals ( 79 innings) and scored 2562 runs with the best score of 131*, with 5 centuries and 13 half-centuries. Among the centuries he has hit, they have come against Zimbabwe, Canada. In the 2018 Asia Cup, he scored a quick fire 124 against the Indian team in Dubai.
Shahzad will play a key role for Afghanistan for giving the team a flying start and put the opposition bowlers under tremendous pressure.
2. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is one of the top-quality spinners in limited overs format right now. He made his One day international for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe on 18th October 2015. In 2017, he registered the fourth-best figures in ODI cricket of 7/18 against West Indies and ripped their batting line up. Since his debut, he has taken 123 wickets from 57 matches ( 54 innings) with an amazing economy rate of 3.90 runs per over.
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In the 2018 Asia Cup held in UAE, Rashid Khan impressed one and all with the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 10 wickets from 5 matches at an economy of 3.72 runs per over and troubled best batsman in the world.
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With the bat, Rashid Khan can contribute with vital runs and help Afghanistan reach a competitive total. He would play a key role for Afghanistan in this year’s World Cup taking wickets in the middle overs.
3. Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi is the most experienced player for Afghanistan in One-day international cricket with both and ball. He made his ODI debut against Scotland in 2009.
With the bat, he has scored 2565 runs from 111 matches (99 innings) with the best score of 116. He can change the course of game with hitting abilities coming lower down the order.
With the bowl, he has taken 118 wickets from 111 matches (107 innings) with an economy of 4.25 runs per over.
Along with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi will play a key role with both bat and ball in the upcoming World Cup 2019 if Afghanistan wants to do well in the tournament.
4. Gulbadin Naib
Gulbadin Naib has been appointed as the captain of Afghanistan Cricket Team for the prestigious 2019 World Cup replacing Asghar Stanakzai.
He made his One day international for Afghanistan against Canada in 2011. He is a decent all-rounder who can do a job with both bat and ball.
With the bat, he has scored 807 runs from 52 matches (44 innings) with the best score of 82*. He is a decent bowler with 40 wickets from 52 matches (47 innings) with an economy of 5.11 runs per over. Afghan team members were unhappy with the removal of Asghar.
Naib needs to lead from the front and help Afghanistan perform well in the upcoming 2019 World Cup. The challenge lies for him to play fearless cricket against top nations and give their best shot.
5. Hazratullah Zazai
The left-handed explosive batsman, Hazratullah Zazai will play his first World Cup for Afghanistan. He has played 6 One day internationals and scored 155 runs with the best score of 67 and strike rate of 106.89.
He is one of the explosive batsmen in T20I format registering the 2nd highest individual total. He scored 162 against Ireland in February 2019. If Afghanistan cricket team selects him in the playing XI, Zazai could be a game changer and give the X Factor the team needed in the batting line up.
Afghanistan lacks the power in the batting line up and Zazai can provide the solidity in the middle order or can do the job in the last few overs.