Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani congratulates nation cricket team for World Cup qualification
Kabul, Mar 24 (IBNS): Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has congratulated his country's national cricket team for qualifying for the upcoming World Cup in 2019.
Ghani said the team made the nation proud by reaching the World Cup for the second time.
"Heartfelt congratulations to the Afghan nation on qualifying for the #ICCWQ2019. Hard luck and well played Ireland. Proud of #BlueTigers for making it to their 2nd consecutive world cup. You made the nation proud. Well done!," Ghani tweeted.
Afghanistan returned from the pit’s edge to qualify for next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 when they defeated Ireland by five wickets in a tension-filled last Super Six match of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 at the Harare Sports Club.
Afghanistan were set for an early flight home when they lost their first three group matches but managed to qualify for the Super Six after Nepal upset Hong Kong.
After winning both their Super Six matches against the Windies and the United Arab Emirates, they received an unexpected lifeline on Thursday when the UAE held their nerves to shock Zimbabwe by three runs.
In Friday’s shootout, Afghanistan suffocated Ireland for runs on what looked like a good batting surface and restricted them to 209 for seven. They then almost made a hash of a straightforward run-chase before coasting home for the loss of five wickets with five balls to spare in what turned out to be a battle of attrition.
Afghanistan have joined the Windies as the second qualifier from the Zimbabwe event and the two sides will now go head to head in the final at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Afghanistan’s fairy-tale run in the qualifier resembled that of Pakistan’s and Australia’s successes in the 1992 and 1999 World Cups. Pakistan, after losing three of their first four matches and a no-result against England, won their last five matches to win the 1992 event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Similarly, Australia lifted the silverware at Lord’s in 1999 when they won six matches on the trot after making a dismal start to the tournament.
Next year’s event, which will take place in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July, will be Afghanistan’s second successive ICC Cricket World Cup after they had also featured in the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, and famously defeated Scotland by one wicket with three balls to spare in Dunedin.
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