Abu Dhabi: Spin Wizard Rashid Khan believes more international cricket will help Afghanistan overcome the pressure against the big team after they go to India with 66 running at the Twenty20 World Cup.
But Rashid stressed their moral high ahead of the Super 12 match which must be won from New Zealand on Sunday when clashes will decide their fate in the tournament.
India rose back from two losses of their opening to defeat Afghanistan on Wednesday after they posted 210 for two people and continued to oppose the opposition to 144-7.
“I think as a team, we barely get the chance to play with them, against India and other good sides.
We didn’t get that chance.
We only played with them at the World Cup,” Rashid said.
“It’s just that belief.
After that come, I think we can defeat any side, but it will come when we play more cricket with the teams.” Rashid, who has played Kricket League throughout the world, including the Indian Premier League, is the fastest to reach 100 T20 Wicket International in 53 matches.
But the Legs-Spin rarely troubled the Indian Batsmen in Abu Dhabi when he became shaky for 36 running in four of his overs, including being hit for two sixes by Rohit Sharma who delayed 47 balls 74.
Sharma’s Blitz, and the opening of 140-run standing with Kl Rahul, Make 69, dismantling the Afghan bowling that missed the Rahman Round Urstery Mujeeb.
Mujeeb had spent two matches due to injury and Rashid said there was no clarity of availability for the remaining matches.
Rashid said the team remained upbeat ahead of their last group match in Abu Dhabi.
“We will only try our best to keep the same process, come against New Zealand in the next match and play with fresh thoughts.
It can be a quarter-final for us,” Rashid said.
“If we win, we know we have a good running rate so we can be a team in the semi-finals.” New Zealand faced Namibia on Friday and then played Afghanistan two days later.
Spinner Mitchell Santner said their focus was to win their last two matches rather than seeing a pointed net scenario.
“I think for us it’s a problem winning the next two matches and we have gone through,” Santner said.
“So we will see the first time playing our best cricket in Sharjah and defeating Namibia and turning from there and seeing what Abu Dhabi has for us against Afghanistan.” It’s in our control if we win two matches.
I don’t think we need to look too much into the ranking.
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