Their late arrival within the Caribbean had compelled the ICC to transform the fixtures of their group matches however Afghanistan, with their magnificent run to the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup, ensured the tweaking by the apex physique was value it, even when it meant rescheduling as many as 4 matches.
Accustomed to coping with points far faraway from and greater than cricket, the battle-hardened Afghanistan crew will chase historical past on Tuesday, in a sport that has typically been a soothing balm for the nation’s many battered souls.
Having punched above their weight, they now face England within the Tremendous League semifinals of the U-19 showpiece at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, an applicable setting for these in search of inspiration for doing issues in cricket which solely the person after whom the venue is known as may do in his heydays.
Afghanistan will create historical past if they will beat fancied England, for they’ve by no means been to the ultimate of the U-19 World Cup.
If their entry into the match was not bereft of drama, due to visa-related points, no much less dramatic was their march to the last-four stage.
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The chances had been closely stacked towards them after they posted simply 134 onboard after Sri Lanka requested them to take the primary strike of their quarterfinal match, however Afghanistan produced an excellent efficiency with the ball to bundle out the island nation for 130 in 46 overs at Coolidge Cricket Floor in Antigua.
Earlier than that, having obtained the required permission to journey to the West Indies, Afghanistan received all three matches within the group stage.
It is just the second time, the primary being the 2018 version in New Zealand, that Afghanistan has made it to the Tremendous League semifinals of the U-19 World Cup.
Nevertheless, England will undoubtedly be their largest problem.
England is extensively identified for his or her batting depth in white-ball cricket, and Jacob Bethell is one title that is likely to be creating issues for the Afghanistan bowlers.
The batting all-rounder from Warwickshire displayed his prowess in England’s quarterfinal win towards South Africa on the identical venue. He smashed 88 off 42 balls at a strike charge of 209.52, the very best for any Englishman in an innings of a minimum of 50 runs within the U-19 World Cup.
Bethell, who was born in Barbados and idolises Sir Garfield Sobers, has scored 201 runs at a mean of fifty.25 and a strike charge of 112.92 and hit two 50s in 4 innings thus far.
England can be hoping he continues that type towards Afghanistan, although in addition they have others able to contributing to the crew’s trigger.