The Afghanistan cricket team has achieved something really impressive in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. They’ve caused a big surprise by winning two important matches in the last 10 days. First, they beat the defending champion, England. Then, they won against Pakistan with eight wickets. This is the first time Afghanistan has ever beaten Pakistan in ODI cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary cricketer, has shown a lot of appreciation for Afghanistan after their historic win against Pakistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He particularly praised the influence of Ajay Jadeja in this victory.
In the match, Afghanistan bowled first at the Chepauk Stadium and limited Pakistan to a score of 282 runs. Then, Afghanistan scored 286 runs for the loss of two wickets in 49 overs. The stars of the Afghan team in this match were Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 65 runs on 53 balls, and Ibrahim Zadran, who made 87 runs on 113 balls. They provided a great start by adding 130 runs for the first wicket. After that, Rahmat Shah, who remained not out with 77 runs on 84 balls, and captain Hasmatullah Shahidi, who was not out with 48 runs on 45 balls, formed an unbroken partnership of 96 runs for the third wicket, sealing Pakistan’s defeat.
Afghanistan's performance at this World Cup has been nothing short of outstanding. Their discipline with the bat, the temperament they've shown, and aggressive running between the wickets reflects their hard work. It could possibly be due to a certain Mr. Ajay Jadeja's influence.… pic.twitter.com/12FaLICQPs
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 23, 2023
Sachin, known for his cricketing wisdom, took to social media (X, formerly Twitter) to praise the Afghanistan team. He said, “Afghanistan’s performance in this World Cup has been amazing. Their discipline with the bat and their temperament have been excellent. The way they run between the wickets shows their hard work. This might be influenced by Ajay Jadeja. With a strong bowling lineup, their victories against teams like England and Pakistan show that a new Afghanistan team is emerging.”
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It’s important to note that Ajay Jadeja is currently a mentor for the Afghanistan cricket team. Before the World Cup, Afghanistan brought Jadeja into the team. A mentor’s role isn’t to coach, but to guide and support. They help players find the right path, offer advice, and help shape strategies. They don’t force players but assist them behind the scenes. Jadeja is performing this crucial role, understanding that Afghanistan’s team might not have extraordinary talent, but they definitely have the potential to achieve extraordinary things.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals have taken a hit with three consecutive losses. To have a chance, they must win their next four matches. Even with four wins, Pakistan needs to secure a better run rate.
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Pakistan’s upcoming matches are against South Africa on October 27, Bangladesh on October 31, New Zealand on November 4, and England on November 11. To make it to the semi-finals, Pakistan must win all four matches, with no chance of points being shared due to weather or other reasons.
In the current points table, India leads with 10 points, followed by New Zealand with 8 points. India and New Zealand are in a good position for the semi-finals. The competition for the third and fourth positions is tough. Currently, South Africa holds the third spot with 6 points, and Australia is fourth with 4 points. Pakistan is in the fifth position with 4 points.
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