Afghanistan’s Captain Calls for Focus Ahead of Second ODI
Afghanistan’s cricket captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, emphasized the importance of staying concentrated, especially when facing strong teams like India. In the first ODI match on June 13, Afghanistan fell short against India, losing by seven wickets in a rain-affected 25-over game held in Dharamsala.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz set a lively tone at the start, scoring a remarkable century in just 48 balls. However, the team’s momentum shifted after his dismissal, leading to them being all out for 194, losing their final seven wickets for a mere 68 runs.
While Shahidi acknowledged the brilliance of Gurbaz’s innings, he highlighted the need for senior players, including himself, Mohammad Nabi, and Azmatullah Omarzai, to step up and perform more consistently. He stated, “Playing against quality teams like India means you can’t make many mistakes. They will capitalize on any small error. Gurbaz’s innings was superb, but after his wicket, I lost mine too, and Nabi and Azmat didn’t take charge.”
He added, “When you’re in control against top teams like India, you must make the most of it and not let them back into the game.” This statement came during a press conference before their second ODI on Wednesday.
Impact of Limited ODI Experience
Shahidi also mentioned that Afghanistan’s limited exposure to ODIs in recent years has hindered their performance consistency. Since January 2025, the team has played only seven ODIs, managing four wins, two losses, and one no-result.
He said, “We haven’t played enough ODIs in the last couple of years—only eight or nine matches. This might have contributed to our struggles. However, we have more series lined up, including one against Ireland. The more we play, the better we get, and we will keep on improving with each game.”
Afghanistan’s tour of India has been challenging so far. They started with a significant defeat in the one-off Test, where India won by an innings and 300 runs. Following their loss in the opening ODI, Shahidi’s team is now looking to rebound in Lucknow to keep the series competitive.
