Afghanistan ODI skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi says that he is happy that they ended the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh on a winning note as these 10 points will prove crucial for them while advancing in the ICC World Cup next year.
Bangladesh won the series title already in the first two matches but the tourists came back strongly in the third and final ODI to clinch a seven-wicket victory at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday (February 28).
Afghanistan ODI skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi says that he is happy that they ended the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh on a winning note as these 10 points will prove crucial for them while advancing in the ICC World Cup next year.
Both the teams had eyes on these series to gain as many points as possible as they were part of the ICC Super League. Afghanistan, who already had 60 points in their account after beating West Indies and Ireland, have now ended their campaign with 70 points.
”Every game was important for us in this ODI series. We were disappointed in the first two games, but that happens in cricket. These ten points will make our future a little bit easier (as far as advancing to World Cup is concerned),”
Shahidi told reporters after the game.
Shahidi added that he was very happy that Rahmanullah Gurbaz made it into the third ODI after being injured and registered his remarkable ton.
“He was injured in the last game, so he was still not feeling good even yesterday. When he told me that he is available, I gave him confidence. I told him you are the one I have belief in, I told him that whenever you go out there, you try to score a hundred,”
said Shahidi.
“He is a match-winner. Whenever he gets a start, he makes it bigger. We have a bundle of youngsters in the team. Ibrahim Zadran is technically really good. Riaz Hassan gave us a good start today. I am sure they will all play well for Afghanistan in the future,” he said adding that they were aware that the wicket would not help the spinners but Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi managed to leave a mark with their usual pace.
“I was expecting the spinners to bowl well but the way Bangladesh prepared the pitches, it didn’t support the spinners. Nabi and Rashid bowled at their usual pace. Nothing different,”
he said.
”Home teams get every benefit of their conditions. We know our conditions very well back in Afghanistan. We are getting used to conditions in UAE and India, but not how well we know conditions in Afghanistan. Still, we have a lot of experience of playing a lot of cricket in other countries.”
