Confident after his team’s performance against mighty India, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib has issued a warning for Bangladesh ahead of their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 encounter at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Monday. During a pre-match press conference, Naib cleared Afghanistan’s intentions with a famous Bollywood dialogue - "Hum to doobay hain sanam, tujhe bhi lekay doobaingay (We are already drowned, we will drown you also)."
After losing all the six games they played so far, Afghanistan is out of the World Cup race but with three more matches remaining, they can spoil the party of other teams and Bangladesh is one of them. Despite losing their three matches against England, New Zealand and Australia, Bangladesh still have a chance, though bleak, to qualify for the semi-finals.
Bangladesh have four points from two wins and one from an abandoned match against Sri Lanka, which they could potentially win. If they win all their remaining games and other results also go in their favour, they can make it to semi-finals.
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However, given the spin-friendly nature of the Southampton pitch, Afghanistan, whose strength is their spin bowling, can give them a stiff challenge. During the match against India, which was also played at the same pitch, Virat Kohli’s men had to struggle for runs against Afghanistan spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi and Mujib-ur-Rahman.
Indian team, known for its batting might, huffed and puffed to a below par score of 223 in their 50-over innings. Although India won the match, courtesy Mohhamed Shami's last over hattrick, Afghanistan did give the men in blue a mighty scare. Currently at the bottam of the table, Afghanistan will look to go home with pride by winning all their remaining three games.
Check out Gulbadin Naib's statement below:
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