- Afghanistan shocks England with a 69-run upset in ICC World Cup 2023.
- England’s defending champions falter on a challenging Delhi pitch, losing to Afghanistan’s bowling prowess.
- Afghanistan’s second-ever World Cup win challenges perceptions, while England faces an unexpected setback in the tournament.
In a jaw-dropping upset at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Afghanistan pulled off a remarkable victory, stunning cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Despite being considered an underdog, Afghanistan secured a convincing 69-run win against the reigning ODI World Cup champions, England. This triumph, only the second in Afghanistan’s World Cup history, comes after their initial win against Scotland in 2015.
Challenges arose for England right from the beginning on the tricky Delhi pitch, with Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissing opener Jonny Bairstow on the first ball. Mujeeb ur Rehman’s precision delivery further added to England’s early woes, dismissing the prolific Joe Root for a mere 11 runs.
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, struggled to find his form and was eventually removed for just nine runs, courtesy of a splendid delivery by Naveen ul Haq. Despite a resilient 66 by Harry Brook, Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Mujeeb and Rashid, kept England on the back foot, resulting in a total collapse with all wickets falling for 215 runs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s explosive start set the stage for Afghanistan’s innings, scoring a quickfire 80 off 57 balls. Although wickets fell after Gurbaz’s departure, contributions from Ikram Akhil, Rashid, and Mujeeb powered Afghanistan to a competitive total of 284 runs.
Adil Rashid and Mark Wood took key wickets for England, but the defending champions fell short in their chase. Afghanistan’s victory challenges the perception of their cricket prowess, showcasing their potential in the international arena.
While England boasts a strong cricket pedigree as the current World Cup champion, this defeat highlights the unpredictable nature of the sport. Twitter has become a buzzing hub, with netizens heaping praise on the Afghan team for their outstanding performance.
Notably, Rashid Khan took to Twitter to express his joy, tweeting,
Cricket is the only source of happiness in Afghanistan, recently there was an Earthquake, many lost everything, this will give them some happiness – this is for them.”
While England, as the reigning ODI World Cup champions, faced an unexpected setback, Afghanistan’s resilience and skill on display in this match highlight the unpredictable nature of cricket. The tournament continues to unfold with surprises, capturing the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
