Afghanistan eye Champions Trophy 2025 glory

KARACHI: Afghanistan cricket captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has expressed confidence in his team’s abilities ahead of their ICC Champions Trophy match against South Africa in Karachi.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Shahidi spoke about the team’s preparation, fan support, and their aspirations for the tournament.

When asked about the pressure of facing South Africa, given their past record of only two wins in five ODIs since 2019, Shahidi remained unfazed. 

“Between 2019 and now, there’s too much difference,” he said. “We recently beat them 2-1 in Sharjah, so we have that confidence with us. We are not under pressure. Right now, we are focusing on what we can do in this tournament, and I believe our team is more ready than ever.”

Shahidi also dismissed concerns about the team’s preparation, despite a loss in their warm-up match against New Zealand. “Our aim in the warm-up games was to give everyone a chance and get them used to the conditions. We were not looking for results,” he explained. “We had a camp in Dubai and are totally prepared. These conditions are suitable for us, and I am confident we can make it to the next round.”

The Afghanistan captain highlighted the overwhelming support from Afghan and Pashtun fans in Karachi, calling it a source of motivation. “There are a lot of Afghans and Pashtuns here who support us. Yesterday, there was a big crowd chanting for Rashid [Khan] and Nabi. It feels good and gives us confidence,” he said.

He emphasised that Afghanistan is not just participating in the tournament but is here to compete and win.

“Our aim is to win the final. We are not here just to participate. We have played a lot of quality cricket over the last two years, and the boys are very experienced. These conditions suit us, and we have a good chance. Let’s start it from tomorrow and hopefully carry the momentum throughout the tournament.”

Addressing recent calls for some teams to boycott matches against Afghanistan due to political issues, Shahidi remained focused on cricket. “As sportsmen, our job is to play cricket. We don’t care what’s going on outside. We only control things inside the ground. Our performance in the last three years has been very good, and we focus on what we can control,” he stated.

Reflecting on Afghanistan’s journey in international cricket, the captain acknowledged the team’s progress but stressed the importance of looking forward. “We played good cricket in the last two World Cups, but that’s history now. Our aim is to improve day by day. In this Champions Trophy, we want to make it to the finals and win the trophy. That’s what we’re here for.”

He also expressed his desire to see international cricket return to Afghanistan. “We have good facilities, stadiums, and academies. Security issues have been a challenge, but hopefully, soon, a team will come to Afghanistan. The passion for cricket there is immense, and the stadiums are packed even for domestic games. I hope that day comes soon,” he said.