- By Ankit Bisht
- Mon, 16 Oct 2023 11:12 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said that the team's win over England in the ODI World Cup 2023 on Sunday will give a reason to smile in the home country that is battling with the devastation and grief caused by the earthquake.
Afghanistan registered their second World Cup win as they outclassed England by 69 runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
"It's not just cricket that the guys are playing for. The guys are very knowledgeable of the things and the hardship that some people are going through because of the natural disaster, and for various other reasons," Trott said in the post-match presentation.
"And so, if this can give a smile to people's faces anywhere in the world, but also encourage boys and girls to pick up a cricket bat or a cricket ball and get playing cricket wherever they are in Afghanistan, then, that's the sort of the goal that's been achieved. And that's great. And then grow the game and the publicity and the exposure that this side is going to give the country, but also the sport," he added.
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England won the toss and invited Afghanistan to bat first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played an 80-run blitz off 57 balls studded with four sixes and eight fours to give the perfect start to the side. His knock supported by Ikram Alikhil's 58 guided Afghanistan to 284/10 in 49.5 overs. On the bowling front, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan picked three wickets each while Mohammad Nabi scalped two dismissals.
Trott felt that Afghanistan's total was 'decent' to give confidence to their bowlers on a spin-friendly track. He added that this win will have a 'knock-on effect' in the tournament.
"We thought we had a decent total, but we had to bowl well and field well and the guys did that. So, I think it's very pleasing and there's a lot of confidence that will hopefully come from this when competing against the bigger nations and it'll have a knock-on effect to all the other games, not only in this World Cup, but for the future as well," said Trott.
"Just what Afghanistan cricket can achieve. Hopefully, this will be the sort of kick-start it is because I know the next match, our opposition certainly will be - I'm not saying they weren't looking at us closely, but they might have a look at the tape again but we respect every opposition and I say this to the guys but we don't fear anyone. Every game we are here to play, we are here to, I believe win," he added.
Afghanistan grabbed their first points on the standings and secured sixth place while five-time champions Australia dropped to the last spot with two losses in as many matches.
Afghanistan will next take on unbeaten New Zealand in their next match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on October 18.