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Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi mentioned requires a boycott over Taliban’s remedy of girls did not have an effect on his staff. Afghanistan face South Africa within the Champions Trophy opener in Karachi.
Hashmatullah Shahidi says Afghanistan want to win Champions Trophy. (AFP Picture)
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi on Thursday mentioned calls from different nations for a boycott of their matches due to the remedy of girls by the ruling Taliban didn’t impact his staff. Afghanistan open their Group B marketing campaign within the Champions Trophy in opposition to South Africa in Karachi on Friday.
Final month South Africa Sports activities Minister Gayton McKenzie backed calls for from British politicians for a enjoying boycott of Afghanistan.
The England and Wales Cricket Board resisted the demand to boycott their Champions Trophy group sport, however mentioned they’d not host Afghanistan in a bilateral sequence.
Australia, additionally in Group B, have cancelled a Twenty20 worldwide sequence and a Take a look at in opposition to Afghanistan within the final two years, however plan to play their trophy sport.
Shahidi mentioned he was unperturbed.
“We solely management issues inside the bottom, that’s our job,” Shahidi mentioned in a press convention in Karachi on Thursday. “The opposite issues can not put us beneath strain.”
Afghanistan face England in Lahore on February 26 and Australia on the similar venue two days later.
“The entire world is aware of that we’re enjoying effectively, particularly within the final three years so we’re centered on our play and right here additionally we do the management issues,” Shahidi mentioned.
Having learnt most of their cricket within the refugee camps in Pakistan in the course of the Soviet invasion of their nation in Seventies, the Afghanistan staff have risen by leaps and bounds.
They shocked three former champions — England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — on the 2023 one-day World Cup in India. They had been the shedding semi-finalists within the Twenty20 World Cup final 12 months, held in america and the West Indies.
Shahidi mentioned his staff was not overawed by South Africa.
“We’ve just lately crushed South Africa in Sharjah so now we have that confidence with us and we’re not beneath any strain,” mentioned Shahidi of his staff’s 2-1 win final 12 months.
Afghanistan skipper vowed his staff desires to win the Trophy.
“We’re doing superb so we’re right here to win the ultimate and never simply to take part. We’re positively hundred per cent trying to win this occasion.”
Afghanistan boast high quality spinners with Rashid Khan, ranked second on the earth in one-day internationals, main the assault.
In addition they have laborious hitting batters in Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.
The Champions Trophy — the primary world occasion hosted by Pakistan in three many years — opened on Wednesday with New Zealand beating the host nation by 60 runs in Group A.
India and Bangladesh are the opposite two groups within the Group. Prime-two groups from every Group will qualify for the semi-finals.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan