Former Afghanistan coach Lalchand Rajput felt the Asian side can ‘upset some of the top teams’ in the World Cup, primarily banking on its spinners.
Lalchand Rajput with Ashgar Afghan during his time with Afghanistan cricket
Mumbai:
Gulbadin Naib will lead the team which also features Mohammad Shahzad and spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman. “Its batting is a little bit on the slower side. Playing in England, especially for batsmen, you have to adjust to the wicket,” noted Rajput, who was also a former India team manager.
“But on the bowling front, it would upset some of the bigger teams on a day where the ball grips. The main game-changer is Shahzad. If he gets going in the first half an hour or 45 minutes, he can get quick runs and can really change (the game). Overall, I think it is the team to watch (out for),” added Rajput. Rashid Khan will be an important cog in Afghanistan’s wheel and Rajput, who has seen the leg spinner from close quarters, dubbed him as a ‘match-winner’.
“Rashid is a match-winner. With the experience of playing in IPL, Big Bash and Caribbean League, he knows how to win matches. A lot of people have started hitting him, but in England, if it is a helpful wicket, it will be difficult to hit him. With (Mohammed) Nabi and Mujeeb, it has got three best spinners. I feel these three can turn the tables on some of the top teams,” Rajput, who is credited for the rise of Afghanistan cricket, said.
Asked to name the top four sides, Rajput quipped, “India, England, Australia and the fourth team will be one among Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.”
“Afghanistan has got one of the best bowling attacks, especially (its) spinners. In England, if there is a good day, where the ball grips and spins, I think it will change some of the games and it will upset some of the top teams as well,” Rajput, who is currently the Zimbabwe coach, told reporters here.
Gulbadin Naib will lead the team which also features Mohammad Shahzad and spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman. “Its batting is a little bit on the slower side. Playing in England, especially for batsmen, you have to adjust to the wicket,” noted Rajput, who was also a former India team manager.
“But on the bowling front, it would upset some of the bigger teams on a day where the ball grips. The main game-changer is Shahzad. If he gets going in the first half an hour or 45 minutes, he can get quick runs and can really change (the game). Overall, I think it is the team to watch (out for),” added Rajput. Rashid Khan will be an important cog in Afghanistan’s wheel and Rajput, who has seen the leg spinner from close quarters, dubbed him as a ‘match-winner’.
“Rashid is a match-winner. With the experience of playing in IPL, Big Bash and Caribbean League, he knows how to win matches. A lot of people have started hitting him, but in England, if it is a helpful wicket, it will be difficult to hit him. With (Mohammed) Nabi and Mujeeb, it has got three best spinners. I feel these three can turn the tables on some of the top teams,” Rajput, who is credited for the rise of Afghanistan cricket, said.
Asked to name the top four sides, Rajput quipped, “India, England, Australia and the fourth team will be one among Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand.”