The manner of that loss, rather than the loss itself, has raised serious concerns in Afghanistan heading into their crucial Group D clash against the UAE in New Delhi.
After reaching the semi-finals in 2024, Afghanistan entered this tournament with high expectations, but back-to-back defeats to New Zealand and South Africa left them wanting for a comprehensive victory and a favorable result elsewhere. Their biggest problem was losing control at crucial moments, especially during batting collapses and expensive bowling over the death.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been exceptional, but Afghanistan’s batting line-up needs stability when the wickets are falling instead of relentless aggression. Back-end bowling was also costly, with Afghanistan among the most expensive teams in the tournament during the final matches.
Players like Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai will have to rediscover form to stabilize both the batting and bowling departments. Omarzai, despite being their leading recruit, is struggling with finances.
However, the UAE arrived confident after defeating Canada, showcasing strong batting depth and a historic five-wicket haul from Junaid Siddique. With Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan proving their firepower, UAE pose a serious challenge.
For Afghanistan, this match represents a chance to regain momentum or face an early exit from the tournament.
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