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- Afghanistan vs Scotland Live Score, T20 World Cup 2021: Afghanistan open campaign against spirited Scotland
Afghanistan vs Scotland Live Score, T20 World Cup 2021: Afghanistan open campaign against spirited Scotland
The Afghanistan cricket team will hope to provide some joy to its people going through tumultuous times back home as it begins its T20 World Cup campaign against a spirited Scotland in Sharjah. Afghanistan finds itself in turmoil again after the Taliban takeover of the country in August. The cricketers could not get much practice due to the situation at home and there was also a controversy over team selection with star spinner Rashid Khan stepping down soon after the squad was announced. Stay updated with Times of India to get all the live cricket score updates of 2021 T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and Scotland.Read Less
Experienced Scotland batsman Calum MacLeod said his side were wary of the Afghan bowling. MacLeod said that having had to play three qualifying games in the last week in Oman could work to Scotland's advantage.
Afghanistan and Scotland are in Group 2 with India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Namibia.
I think it's for those cricketers playing cricket all over the world, especially five, six, seven players are playing different franchise cricket from last six months. We are playing a lot of cricket in UAE and we know the conditions. Everyone back home is thinking that Afghanistan have the best team in these conditions. And our team is confident, we already targeted most of the teams in our group.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi
Afghanistan's success in T20 is built on their big-hitting batting and the spin bowling of their 'Big Three', Khan, Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. In all, eight of their 15-man World Cup squad have experience of playing professional T20 cricket in other countries.
Afghanistan are only a second-tier 'associate nation' but their strength in T20 allowed them to qualify direcly for the main group stage while full Test nations Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had to battle through the first round. Skipper Nabi said Afghanistan hope to be promoted to elite.
I think we are going to make a few upsets. I don't see why not. We've done it before. We've beaten the best ODI team (England) in the world, we've beaten Bangladesh just there. I think we're on a really good run of form. Teams won't take us lightly. Yeah, they should be worried about Scotland. We're in a great run of form and we've got a lot of momentum going forward, so yeah.
Scotland spinner Mark Watt
The new ball duo of Bradley Wheal and Josh Davey has been impressive for Scotland while left-arm spinner Mark Watt has been effective in the middle overs. Watt made it amply clear post the win against Oman that Scotland are going into Super 12s with an aim to create a few upsets.
Scotland are high on confidence
Afghanistan opponents, Scotland, are high on confidence after winning all their matches in the first round, including a famous win over Bangladesh. Scotland showed their character against the sixth-ranked Bangladesh as they came from an almost hopeless situation to stun their seasoned opponents.
Everyone knows that back home in Afghanistan there's a lot happening and everything from the last few months. But as a cricket point of view, everybody is ready for this World Cup and we prepared well. The fans are really waiting because the only happiness in Afghanistan is cricket. If you're willing to do well in the tournament and we win the games, the fans are really happy and there will be a lot of smiles on faces.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi
The spin trio of Rashid, Nabi and Mujeeb Zadran can trouble the best of batters and considering the slow and low nature of the Sharjah pitch in the IPL, they should enjoy bowling on the surface laid out for the World Cup game.
Afghanistan are hoping for consistency from batters
Afghanistan have built a reputation of a top bowling side over the years and if their batters are able to fire consistently in the tournament, they can beat any side on the day. A lot will depend on openers Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad in the batting department with Najibullah Zadran and skipper Nabi expected to get quick runs in the middle and death overs.
Notwithstanding their controversial build-up, Afghanistan have shown what they are capable of in the two-warm ups that they played in the lead up to the tournament. They lost to South Africa before wrapping up their preparations with a win over defending champions West Indies.
The cricketers could not get much practice due to the situation at home and there was also a controversy over team selection with star spinner Rashid Khan stepping down soon after the squad was announced. Few last minute changes were made and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is back to lead the team.
The Afghanistan cricket team will hope to provide some joy to its people going through tumultuous times back home as it begins its T20 World Cup campaign against a spirited Scotland in Sharjah. Afghanistan finds itself in turmoil again after the Taliban takeover of the country in August.
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Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the T20 World Cup Super 12 match between Afghanistan and Scotland in Sharjah.
