3 teams whom Afghanistan can beat at the ICC World Cup 2019

Afghanistan competed in their first notable ICC tournament in 2010 when they qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 hosted in the Caribbean. Since then the Asian nation has improved, and raised it‘s game to a level that no team can consider them minnows in major competitions.

The International Cricket Council awarded the Blue Tigers for its achievements in the global field in 2017 when they rewarded Afghanistan with the Test stature along with Ireland. In June 2018 Afghanistan played their first Test match against India in Bengaluru although in a losing effort.

Afghanistan made it to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup ahead of the much stable and experienced teams of Zimbabwe and Ireland, who used to be present at the sport’s grandest carnival. The team not only booked its place for the mega event in the UK next year but won the ICC CWC 2019 Qualifiers by blowing away former World Cup champions Windies in the decisive finale.

The Afghan team won their first ever World Cup match in 2015 when they conquered Scotland in a nail-biting thriller. They would be keen to add some more victories to their kitty and here are the 3 teams whom they can defeat.

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#1 Sri Lanka

Afghanistan recently defeated Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup

The team who once won the World Cup and recently also won the ICC WT20, Sri Lanka is running through a never ending bad dream. With all senior players retiring together at almost the same period, the Islanders have been unable to find their replacements. To fill the boots of Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara is a tough job but the cricket fans saw Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews as the rising stars.

Somehow, the Sri Lankan team could not recover from the blows that they were dealt with and they may also take the wooden spoon by finishing last at the ICC Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan thrashed the Lankan Lions in a group match of Asia Cup and would like to repeat the same in England next year.

#2 West Indies

Afghanistan has never lost to the Windies at ICC World Events!

West Indies, in its two attempts has never crossed the line when playing against the Afghan side. First, they lost against the Mohammad Nabi-led team at the ICC World T20 in 2016. Afghanistan was the only team to defeat the eventual champions in that competition. Next when the teams faced off in the final of ICC CWC Qualifiers, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan once again proved to be the better side.

After displaying excellent performances in the Asia Cup, the Asghar Afghan-led side would like to upset a depleted Windies side when they face off at cricket’s biggest event.

#1 Bangladesh

Afghanistan would like to avenge their Super 4 defeat at the World Cup

In the group stage of Asia Cup, Afghanistan seemed the most improved side with its clinical performances. They outplayed former champs Sri Lanka in their first encounter while they overcame the Bangladeshi Tigers in a lop-sided affair to top their group. They failed to defy the odds in the next stage as they lost two close matches versus Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The team from Afghanistan would work on its shortcomings and most likely field their strongest side ever at the World Cup. Bangladesh vs Afghanistan will be one of the toughest matches to predict as both the teams are evenly matched but Bangladesh have experience of the English conditions having played the ICC Champions Trophy recently. Afghanistan would love to make a statement by shocking the Bangla Tigers and proving themselves as one of the top Asian cricketing nations.

To conclude, the Afghanistan unit has now grown into a force to be taken account of in the 2019 World Cup. They are sporting rich-quality cricket and would be the team to beat in the forthcoming decades.