CWC 2023 Latest!! The past few years have seen Afghanistan cricket take giant strides, but for some reason, they could not convert those improved performances into results on the biggest stage, i.e.- the World Cup. However, they have made a massive statement in this edition of the World Cup. First, they upset the proverbial apple cart by beating defending champions England. And then, if that was not enough, they went ahead and defeated Pakistan in Chennai by a convincing margin of 8 wickets in a game where they were superior to the 1992 World Cup winners in all three departments.

So that begs the question- Is this Afghanistan team capable of making the semifinals against all odds in this edition of the World Cup? They are currently in sixth place in the table with 4 points, just behind Pakistan who also have the same number of points, but are ahead by virtue of a better NRR than the Afghans. While Afghanistan’s NRR is a slight concern at -0.969, it might not be a hassle if they keep winning their games. So do they have a chance?

Can Afghanistan Make It To The Semis Of CWC 2023!?

If we look at the raw facts that are involved based on numbers from CWC 2023 alone, there is every possibility for the Afghans to make it to the knockout stages. For starters, the next two matches they play are against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. Both of these games should be considered winnable given that they have just pulled off their highest successful run-chase in their history. They play Sri Lanka in Pune, which is a true surface and will favor their in-form top 3 of Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and Rahmat Shah. The game against the Netherlands will also favor them since the pitch in Lucknow has always kept the spinners interested, something that Afghanistan has plenty of.

Now coming to the team. This side has managed to tick most of the boxes when it comes to the balance of the side, They have a fully firing top-3 who are in form and play the situation perfectly. The middle-order led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is also formidable enough. The bowling arsenal at their disposal is equally formidable with the spin quartet effectively complementing the pace battery of Naveen, Fazal, and Azmatullah Omarzai. If you add all of them together coupled with the smarts in the think-tank, this motley bunch of free-spirited Afghans can set this tournament on fire.

The hype is real. The talent is there. They have the passion to go far and the backing of a nation that is more or less dependent on the fortunes of these 11 men for their source of joy. All these factors should be enough motivation for the Afghanistan side to go hard and go full tilt against every opposition they play in the business end of the World Cup.

However, one thing is for sure, they will need favours from their rivals for a chance to go through to the semis. India, New Zealand, South Africa are the top three favourites to go through right now. England has been up and down with regards to form. And, Australia is getting back into form and have been on fire recently. So, without a few favours here and there, it just won’t happen for Afghanistan in CWC 2023!! Let’s wait and watch!!