The Afghanistan cricket team is playing their maiden ICC Champions Trophy this year, and on the first attempt, they set their sights on the title of this big cricketing event.
Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan, recently expressed this desire.
Speaking ahead of their opening match against South Africa in Karachi on Friday, Shahidi dismissed the idea that Afghanistan would settle for a modest campaign.
“We came here to compete, and our goal is to win the final,” he said. “We are not here just to participate. We have played high-quality cricket over the last couple of years. This event is a great opportunity for us.”
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To back his claim, Hashmatullah said the conditions of Pakistan and the UAE suit them well, and they also have an experienced bunch of cricketers.
Afghanistan reached the semifinals in the last T20 World Cup. Before that, they were close to reaching the semifinal of the ODI World Cup too. These memories of the ICC events have boosted their confidence.
That performance secured Afghanistan’s place in the Champions Trophy, where they believe they have a real shot at the title.