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Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed immense admiration for Afghanistan's performance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, hailing them as the tournament's second-best Asian team. Afghanistan, under the leadership of Hasmatullah Shahidi, has captured the attention of the cricketing world with their remarkable performances, exceeding expectations by securing wins against three previous World Cup champions: Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England.
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This achievement is particularly notable given Afghanistan's modest record of just two World Cup wins prior to this tournament. Their journey has been described as a fairytale, showcasing their growing prowess in the cricketing world.
In their last group match against South Africa, Afghanistan demonstrated commendable resilience. Choosing to bat first, they posted a respectable score of 244 runs in 50 overs, largely thanks to Azmatullah Omarzai's stellar unbeaten innings of 97, which featured seven fours and three sixes. Despite their valiant efforts, South Africa clinched the game by five wickets.
Though Afghanistan did not advance to the semifinals, their campaign in the 2023 World Cup has been nothing short of inspirational. Irfan Pathan, who has consistently supported the Afghan team throughout the tournament, even celebrated their victory over Pakistan by dancing with the players. In a tweet on X, Pathan lauded Afghanistan for playing high-quality cricket during the tournament and acknowledged them as the second-best Asian team, trailing only behind India.
"Top quality cricket by Afghanistan this World Cup. Second best Asian team for sure. Hopefully from here on this team will create magic on the field. Good luck going forward," wrote Pathan.
Pathan's praise underscores the significant strides Afghanistan has made in cricket. He expressed his hopes for the Afghan team to continue their magical performances on the field, indicating a bright future for the team in international cricket. Their journey in the World Cup has not only impressed cricket enthusiasts but also served as a testament to the sport's growing competitiveness and the emergence of new cricketing talents on the global stage.
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