AFG VS BAN - 52nd Match, Super 8 Group 1, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2024

A country plagued with several issues will celebrate tonight thanks to a bunch of players who gave it their blood, sweat and tears for the people back home, making this victory even sweeter. They came into this tournament as the dark horses and were in a group along with West Indies and New Zealand, beat the latter and booked a place in the Super 8s. They had the bowling for these conditions and the openers ensured the batting didn't lack in quality either. They failed to beat Australia in the ODI World Cup but managed to do that this time around. If that was their greatest ever achievement then they topped with this win against Bangladesh and qualifying for their first ever World Cup semifinal. Can they go all the way? That will be a story to remember. But that's for another day. Today it is all about savouring this victory. They will be up all night celebrating but we draw the curtains here. We will be back for the semis in a couple of days time. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. This is Akshay Maanay signing off on behalf of Praveen Kumar, Abhinand Raghavendran and Abhinav Guha. Goodbye!

Rashid Khan | Afghanistan captain: It's something like a dream for us as a team being in the semifinal. It's all about the way we have started the tournament. The belief came while we beat New Zealand. It's unbelievable, I don't have any words to describe my feelings. Back home, everyone is so happy for this big achievement. The only guy who put us in the semifinal was Brian Lara and we proved that right. Before the competition at the welcome party, I told him, 'We won't let you down. We'll make it through and prove you're right.' I am proud of this team. We thought 130-135 was a good total on this wicket. We were 15-20 runs short. It was all about the mindset. We knew they would come hard at us to chase that in 12 overs to get into the semifinal. That's where we could take advantage. If we bowled into the stumps, we had a better chance to getting them out. We didn't have to do anything extra. We just had to be clear with our plans. We put in the effort, that's in our hands. Rain, result is not in our hands. That 100% effort is always in our hands. Everyone did a wonderful job. In T20s, we have a strong base, especially in bowling. The quality of fast bowling we have got, it's not as fast but they are more skillful. In T20s, if you have skills, you are more effective. They have given great starts in this World Cup competition so far and it becomes easy for us (spinners) in the middle where we can go hard at the batsmen. So happy the way they have delivered. They were very clear with their mind, that's very pleasing. Rain was on and off, but mentally we were always there. We had to play 20 overs and we had to take 10 wickets, that's the only way to get to the semifinal, there's no other way. Gulbadin had some cramps I think, hopefully he'll be alright. That wicket he took was massive for us. It's a massive celebration back home now. It's a big achievement for us. We have done that in the Under-19 level, being in the semifinal. But in this World Cup ... I don't have any words how to describe the feeling. The country will be very proud. I am so happy the way we have delivered as a team. We took the responsibility. Being in the semis is big, now we have to go with a clear mind. We'll have to keep things simple and make sure we enjoy the big occasion.

Najmul Hossain Shanto | Bangladesh captain: I think we bowled really well, we did lots of good things but as a batting unit, we made poor decision especially in the middle overs and that's what cost us today. The plan was to go hard in the first six overs, if we lost early wickets, the plan was to bat normally, but that didn't happen and the middle-order couldn't execute. The whole tournament we have bowled really well, both the pacers and the spinners, especially Rishad was great, the fast bowlers also did really well. Also, as a fielding group, we did well. The batting needs to improve, our top-order didn't perform well. It can happen, the ball got wet and that's a good thing. As I said, we didn't execute well with the bat and made a lot of wrong decisions.

Stats by Roshan Gede

Two bowlers with 4-wicket hauls in a T20 WC innings
Umar Gul (4/25) & Shahid Afridi (4/19) vs SCO, Durban, 2007
Mujeeb Rahman (5/20) & Rashid Khan (4/9) vs SCO, Sharjah, 2021
Fazalhaq Farooqi (4/17) & Rashid Khan (4/17) vs NZ, Providence, 2024
Rashid Khan (4/23) & Naveen-ul-Haq (4/26) vs BAN, Kingstown, 2024

Carrying bat through a completed T20I innings
Chris Gayle (West Indies) vs Sri Lanka, The Oval, T20 WC 2009 SF
Richmond Baaleri (Ghana) vs Botswana, Benoni, 2023
Litton Das (Bangladesh) vs Afghanistan, Kingstown, 2024 T20 WC

- 5 wins is the most for Afghanistan in a T20 WC edition, surpassing 4 in 2016.

Naveen-ul-Haq vs LHBs in T20 WC 2024
Balls: 46
Runs conceded: 45
Wickets: 8
Avg: 5.62
SR: 5.75
ER: 5.86
Dots: 25

Most 4-wicket hauls in Men’s T20Is
9 - Rashid Khan (AFG)
8 - Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)
7 - Henry Ssenyondo (UGA)

Naveen-ul-Haq | Player of the Match: Thank you so much, I want to thank mighty Allah for this achievement, we have worked hard for this since the last few years, we were dreaming and working for this day and it’s a surreal feeling. We always knew that they would go hard in the powerplay to chase the total down in 12.1 overs, so we knew we were in the game, the plan was simple - to mix it up and we got crucial wickets in the powerplay. These are the games you never know what can happen, after a boundary, you feel the game is gone, but a wicket brings you back in the game, so the margin for error is very small. These kind of wickets are not high-scoring ones so you are always in the game. We have worked hard for this and we are in the semis, we are very happy.

There was everything in this game; drama, entertainment, suspense, jubilation and satisfaction. No movie could have such plot twists like this encounter. The chase started with three teams - Australia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - still in the hunt for a semifinal spot. There were equations for each and that's what made it exciting. Bangladesh needed to chase 116 in 12.4 overs to book their spot, Australia needed a Bangladesh win after 12.4 overs and Afghanistan needed just a win. Litton started off with a bang but the pace duo of Farooqi and Naveen struck thrice in two overs to bring the contest back in balance. There were a few rain stoppages and the equation kept changing, sometimes Afghanistan were in front as per DLS and sometimes Bangladesh. Litton kept going from one end even as Rashid spun a web around the middle order. Bangladesh then gave up their semifinal hopes after the 10-over mark and concentrated on winning the game. But a few rash shots and Naib bouncing out Sakib turned the pendulum again. Litton was still there and Bangladesh believed with 12 needed off the last 2 overs but Naveen struck off consecutive deliveries to give Afghanistan their greatest ever win.

01:09 Local Time, 05:09 GMT, 10:39 IST: Oh my! Let's all catch a breather. What a game we have witnessed! There couldn't have been a better way to end the Super 8 stage. Afghanistan have booked their place in the semifinal and in the process knocked Australia out of the World Cup. The Afghanistan players are doing a lap of the ground. They have their own supporters but the West Indian people too were rooting for them and it is only fair to thank them. Some of the players have the Afghanistan flag wrapped around them. The tears have turned into elation now. Gurbaz is limping but is still following his team mates. Rashid has been lifted on the shoulder. What a servant he has been for his country! They needed him today and he led them from the front. Credit to each and every player for giving their everything.

Naveen-ul-Haq to Mustafizur, out Lbw!! Afghanistan have done it. This is the greatest day in their sporting history. They have qualified for a World Cup semifinal. The emotions tell you what it means. Many of the players are in tears. Gurbaz, who injured his knee and watched the game from the sidelines, can't hide his tears. Rashid was already on his knee teary eyed. Coming to the ball: Naveen keeps it plain and simple - full and straight at the stumps, Mustafizur is rooted to the crease and is beaten on the inside edge, struck on the back pad and the ball was smashing into middle-stump. Mustafizur lbw b Naveen-ul-Haq 0(1)

Naveen-ul-Haq to Mustafizur, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Mustafizur Rahman, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Bangladesh review! Fizz has been given out LBW. This looks plumb but he has reviewed it. Afghanistan are celebrating already. The players are running in all directions. Rashid has sunk to his knee. Meanwhile, a review is going on. Nothing on UltraEdge. Ball-tracking shows it to be smashing into middle-stump. OUT

01:00 Local Time, 05:00 GMT, 10:30 IST: The players are going off the field as the rain has got heavier. That wicket has taken Afghanistan ahead as per DLS. They are ahead by 3 runs. "Looks like the covers are coming off," informs Tom Moody on air. The players are still near the boundary rope. The stumps are being erected and the players are coming back. Mustafizur is the the last batter. Are we going to deduct another over? If it is an 18-over game then Bangladesh need 6 off 2 balls. We are waiting for the official confirmation. Shoriful is bringing gloves and water but it is actually a message to Litton. Bravo sending one of his own messages through Farooqi. The umpires are waiting to know if the stoppage was long enough to deduct an over. Looks like it will be a 19-over game. We are ready to go

Naveen-ul-Haq to Taskin Ahmed, out Bowled!! Dragged on! More drama. It has started to rain and Afghanistan were behind as per DLS. They needed a dot or a wicket and Naveen has given them a wicket. Slower ball and it keeps low, Taskin tries to push it into the off-side and gets an under-edge onto the stumps. Taskin Ahmed b Naveen-ul-Haq 2(9)

Naveen-ul-Haq to Taskin Ahmed, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Naveen-ul-Haq to Litton Das, 1 run, dropped! Tough return chance and Naveen cannot hang on. Fullish delivery and Litton is deceived by the lack of pace, he checks his shot and chips it back, Naveen sticks his right hand and the ball does not stick