Afghanistan captain said that playing in Dubai would have put them in to the final.
The India vs Afghanistan Super Four match in the ongoing Asia Cup came to a nail-biting finish, ending up in a draw. It also meant that Afghanistan will end the Asia Cup on a high after two last-over losses in the Super Four.
The Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan, however, believes that his team would have done better if the tournament was in Dubai. Asghar reckons that they would have made it to the final of the 2018 Asia Cup had their matches been played in Dubai instead of Abu Dhabi.
He also stated that Afghanistan had sounded “the warning bells” to major cricketing nations.
Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi to enter the Super Four stage of the tournament.
At the same venue, they narrowly lost to Pakistan by three wickets with three balls remaining and to Bangladesh by three runs during the Super Four stage.
Shifting to the Dubai International Stadium – where they had previously played 10 limited-overs matches, winning seven – to face India in their last match, Afghanistan made 252/8 in 50 overs and then tied the match as Rashid Khan defended six runs.
Speaking to reporters after the tie, Afghan stated that Dubai would have proved beneficial to his team.
“I was sure that we would play the final,” he said. “I was sure that the conditions in Dubai would suit us better, because no team has played as much there as we have. It was hard luck that our matches were all in Abu Dhabi. If our matches had been played on this track in Dubai, I can confirm that Afghanistan would have been in the final. That was unfair on us. The wicket in Abu Dhabi went against our bowling. Nevertheless, our bowlers and batsmen have performed.”
Afghanistan have showed their strength as an ODI team, well over a year since they were granted Full Member status. They scored win wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in group stage and took each Super Four match into the last over.
“I said before the Asia Cup in a press conference that Afghanistan did not come here to just play the Asia Cup. We came here to make a statement and that is what we have done” he said.
“We fell short, you can say because of a lack of experience. The boys understand that, they know what has to be done next time. It’s been fantastic, and we’ve learned a lot from this Asia Cup. Inshallah, the next time our cricket will be the best.”
Asked whether Afghanistan had sounded the warning bells to major opponents, and Asghar did not hesitate to reply that it had indeed done that.
“Definitely the warning bells are ringing. Don’t forget that.”
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