Cricket World Cup 2023: Hashmatullah Shahidi Dedicates Afghanistan Victory To ‘Struggling Refugees’

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi devoted his group’s World Cup victory over the Netherlands on Friday to “struggling refugees” at residence and insisted he’s nonetheless “dreaming” of reaching the semi-finals. Afghanistan swept to a seven-wicket triumph with 111 balls to spare to file a fourth win on the match after already surprising defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. With two group video games left, they’ve eight factors, the identical as Australia and New Zealand though their rivals boast higher internet run charges.

Undefeated India have already made certain of a semi-final spot with South Africa virtually sure to affix them.

After the victory, Hashmatullah turned his ideas to the determined plight of compatriots on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Greater than 165,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan within the month since Islamabad issued an ultimatum to 1.7 million individuals to depart or face arrest and deportation.

“A message to our nation again residence. We all know that a number of refugee persons are struggling. We’re watching the movies and we’re unhappy for them,” stated 28-year-old Hashmatullah.

“We’re with them in these powerful instances and I need to dedicate this win to them, who’re in ache, and to everybody again residence.”

Hashmatullah stated he additionally has non-public causes to be pushing in the direction of the last-four.

“I misplaced my mom three months in the past and my household is in a number of ache,” he stated.

“We’re nonetheless dreaming and we’re nonetheless attempting our greatest to make the semi-final. That will be such an enormous achievement for our nation and for me.”

Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott stated he admired his gamers for being in contact with the myriad of issues going through their nation.

– ‘Contact individuals’ –

“I feel the gamers are attuned with all the things that is happening again residence, whether or not it is an earthquake and different issues,” stated the previous England batsman.

“I feel they’re having fun with the enjoyment that they are giving to the Afghan individuals and the smile that they presently have on their face within the altering room, but additionally the grins that is giving everyone else.

“That is the beauty of sport and with the ability to contact individuals additional afield than simply right here within the stadium or on this nation, however again residence as effectively.”

Earlier than this yr, Afghanistan had gained just one match at World Cups and that was towards Scotland on their debut in 2015.

4 years in the past, in the UK, they misplaced all 9 video games they performed.

On Friday, set 180 to win, Rahmat Shah (52) hit his third successive half-century whereas Hashmatullah made an undefeated 56, additionally his third essential innings in a row.

Veteran off-spinner Mohammad Nabi was man-of-the-match for his 3-28.

“Mohammad Nabi is a particular participant. He’s so proficient and he likes to take duty with the ball like he did at the moment,” stated Hashmatullah.

Subsequent up for Afghanistan on Tuesday is a possible grudge match towards five-time champions Australia.

In January, Australia controversially cancelled a collection towards Afghanistan in protest, they claimed, on the Taliban’s remedy of girls.

“We have now good group unity. We’re very united and we’re all the time enjoying for the group and successful for the group,” added Hashmatullah.

The Netherlands, who’ve surprised South Africa and Bangladesh on the match, had been undone Friday by 4 run-outs.

“The run-outs had been exhausting to come back again from, we set ourselves up for complete. They’ve high quality spinners by means of the center and we did not have our top-order batters to face them,” stated skipper Scott Edwards.

“We have finished effectively batting first, defending scores. We thought if we scored 280 we might be effectively within the sport.”

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)

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