ICC World Cup 2015: Short notes - February 18

Bangladesh players celebrating after the win against Afghanistan

7 Down, 42 to Go. One game a day, that too involving an Associate country. The World Cup seems to have been scheduled along the lines of television - daily soaps for the weekdays and blockbusters for the prime time weekends (which must have been the intent all along).

• Afghanistan made their World Cup debut. Lots have been said about their fairy-tale journey over the last couple of years. Yet, Afghanistan competing in the top level of any sport still seems straight out of a Disney movie.
• The only bit of the game I actually saw was the national anthems. And it was a fairly remarkable sight. Also probably the first time ever that I have heard the Afghan national anthem.
• This was a big banana skin of a match for Bangladesh who had everything to lose. Yet they managed to avoid it with a few hiccups.
• Shakib-al-Hassan and Mushfiqur Rahim bailed Bangladesh out of a potentially tricky situation. Although it was a welcome relief from the string of 300+ scores being recorded.
• Afghanistan lost the plot at the start of the chase and were never in contention then.
• Arbit Stat - Shakib is now the first Bangladeshi batsman to score 4000 runs in ODI cricket.
• Still awaiting the first close game of the tournament.
• Prediction Time - Zimbabwe to comfortably beat UAE tomorrow.