South Africa’s legendary pace bowler Dale Steyn has forecasted that the Afghanistan cricket team could triumph in an ICC tournament within the next decade if they learn to exercise patience in their gameplay. Afghanistan has shown significant progress, defeating strong cricketing nations and demonstrating their potential on the world stage. Steyn advocates for longer formats of the game to help improve players’ skills and enhance their performance.
Dale Steyn, the legendary South African fast bowler, has expressed that the Afghanistan cricket team has the potential to win an ICC limited-overs tournament within the next decade, provided their players cultivate a sense of patience in their gameplay. Despite the numerous challenges posed by war and instability, Afghanistan’s cricket squad has progressed significantly, evolving from an affiliate member to a competitive entity in international white-ball tournaments.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan showcased their talent by defeating prominent teams such as England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, demonstrating their growth as a team. Additionally, they reached the semifinals in the previous year’s T20 World Cup, achieving a remarkable victory over Australia.
Steyn remarked, “We live in a time now where people are not patient enough. We can hardly watch two seconds on an Instagram story and it just feels like the Afghanistan players are similar when they’re playing their cricket.” He emphasized that patience is vital for Afghanistan’s players, suggesting that their desire for immediate results inhibits their performance.
The Afghanistan team, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, was in a competitive scenario at the Champions Trophy, attempting to secure a semifinal spot against Australia and South Africa. However, their initial loss to South Africa severely impacted their standing, particularly when rain interrupted a crucial match against Australia, resulting in shared points between the teams.
Steyn further mentioned that participation in four-day first-class cricket could enhance the players’ skills, fostering a better understanding of how to construct their innings. He noted that “back in the day, a lot of players would go play county cricket… to improve their skills and improve their patience really.”
While the proliferation of T20 leagues globally offers financial benefits to players, Steyn argued that spending more time in four-day formats could better prepare them for one-day competitions, akin to a scaled-down version of Test cricket.
In summary, Dale Steyn believes that with the right focus on developing patience and skills, Afghanistan’s cricket team is on a promising trajectory towards winning ICC tournaments. Their past performances reflect a growing prowess, but enhancing their gameplay through longer formats could be crucial for their future success. Steyn’s insights highlight the importance of patience in cricket and the potential for growth among Afghan players.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
