NEWS
Follow UsAfghanistan Test and ODI captain Hashmatullah Shahidi claimed that his team is capable of beating every side in every format. The comments came on the back of the team’s first-ever multi-game Test series win that came against Zimbabwe on January 6 (Tuesday) at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
“We played good cricket throughout the series. The first innings (here) was tough, but we played some fighting cricket from there on. We'll look to move forward because we have the talent to beat every side in every format,” Shahidi said in the post-match presentation ceremony at the end of the second Test of the two-match series.
The Afghan captain praised his side for making a strong comeback in the game after they were bowled out for 157 in the first innings and let Zimbabwe reach 243.
“Coming back after a difficult first day was excellent, but mentally, this will make us a lot stronger. Performances from Rahmat, Ismat and Rashid were outstanding,” he said.
Lauding the debutant Ismat Alam, who became the first Afghan to score a Test ton on debut, Shahidi said, “He came into the series with runs at the domestic level, and the amount of maturity he showed was outstanding, especially after getting dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
"His father has been a founding member of Afghan cricket, so for the son to score a hundred on debut was satisfying.”
Shahidi also said that the Afghan team's focus is on the Champions Trophy 2025, where they will make their debut after finishing in the top eight in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“A lot of our guys will be playing franchise cricket, but our next big challenge is the Champions Trophy, it's a big tournament for us and we're looking forward to it. We'll have a camp before the start of that tournament,” said the 30-year-old.
