Renowned Sri Lankabased cricket announcer Roshan Abeysinghe has made a bold prediction about Afghanistan becoming one of the finalists of the T20 WC 2024.
The Afghan team, which will play its fifth edition of the T20 World Cup in 2024, has had a very successful run in the group stage. Placed alongside West Indies co-hosts New Zealand, debutants Uganda and Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan have won all 3 of their first 3 group matches.
But Afghanistan caused the biggest setback by defeating 2021 runners-up New Zealand in their first Group D match. They then won their matches against Uganda and PNG to join the West Indies as the second team to reach the Super 8 stage. It will be his fourth appearance in the second round of a T20 World Cup.
In their previous participations, the Asians were eliminated from the 2nd round, but in this edition, given their form, Afghanistan can take advantage of their opportunity. Their qualifiers against India and Australia are confirmed in the Super 8 and their third opponent in the next round is yet to be determined.
In 3 days, Afghanistan will try to ensure they finish the group stage on top of Group D before preparing for the Super 8s. Ahead of the second round, former Sri Lankan national cricketer Roshan Abeysinghe has made a statement bold.
What did Roshan Abeysinghe say about Afghanistan’s chances?
In a recent interview, Roshan Abeysinghe spoke about the uncertainty of this edition of the T20 World Cup in the United States and the West Indies. Roshan said the 20-team tournament has been full of surprises. He admitted that the group stage exits of teams like Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, among others, were a testament to the associate nation’s rise in world cricket.
After seeing the unpredictability of the T20 World Cup, Roshan Abeysinghe said that he is bound to make a big statement that Afghanistan will surely reach the final. He said his prediction may be wrong as it is the T20 format, but the Afghans will at least make it to the last match of the event even if they don’t end up winning it.
“The current T20 World Cup has been full of surprises, to say the least! The elimination of favorite teams in the first round, the remarkable efforts of some of the partner teams and their progress, with the added suspense created by the ” unpredictability.” “All these factors have made this event extraordinary.” – said Abeysinghe.
“Since the unpredictability factor largely prevails, I am inclined to make a prediction, despite what is going terribly wrong so far! And my prediction to win or at least reach the final would be Afghanistan! Let’s see” . – concluded Roshan Abeysinghe.
Rashid Khan’s men to take on India in Super 8 opener
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan’s men are set to take on India on June 20 in their first Super 8 match after facing the West Indies in their last group match.
