Afghanistan’s historic victory over England in the 2023 Cricket World Cup

Afghanistan’s historic win over England, only their second in the World Cup, will boost the team’s confidence and help them compete against other top teams in 50-over cricket, not just in the 2023 tournament but in the years to come, according to head coach Jonathan Trott.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz‘s 57-ball 80 gave Afghanistan a flying start, but it was Ikram Alikhil’s knock that guided them to a challenging total of 284. Alikhil was playing his first World Cup match in India, and his innings was key in Afghanistan’s comeback after a mid-innings wobble. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan also made important contributions with the bat. The Afghan spin trio of Nabi, Mujeeb, and Rashid then accounted for eight of the 10 England wickets to bowl their side to a commanding 69-run victory.

“We knew we had a good total, but we still had to bowl and field well. The guys did that brilliantly, so I’m very pleased. This win will give us a lot of confidence as we compete against the bigger nations in this World Cup and beyond. It shows what Afghanistan cricket can achieve. I hope this is just the start of a successful campaign. I know our next opponents will be watching closely, but we respect every team and we don’t fear anyone. We’re here to win every game.” – Jonathan Trott

Trott hopes that the victory will bring joy to Afghanistan cricket fans around the world and inspire young people to take up the sport. He said, “I think it’s not just cricket that the guys are playing for. They are very aware of the hardships that some people are facing due to natural disasters and other reasons.”

“If this victory can bring a smile to people’s faces anywhere in the world, and encourage boys and girls in Afghanistan to pick up a cricket bat or ball and start playing, then that’s a great achievement. This team will give the country and the sport much-needed publicity and exposure,” said Trott.

Trott was reminded of England’s loss to Ireland in the 2011 World Cup and the emotional rollercoaster that followed. “That’s the beauty of the World Cup, isn’t it?” he said. “Cricket is all about ups and downs, and this game can push and pull you emotionally, both as a player and as a coach. You want your players to do well, because you know what they’re capable of. In the previous two games, we showed glimpses of our potential, especially in the second game.”

“I’m thrilled with the players and what we’ve accomplished. As a team, we’ve agreed that if we can get these things right, we can compete with anyone in the world. I think the belief that comes from this win, as well as the hard work the guys put in off the field, will give them the confidence to kick on even more. It’s brilliant to get our first win out of three, and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Asked if Afghanistan exploited weaknesses in the England team, Trott said they capitalized on the spin-friendly conditions and rose to the challenge with the bat. He also said that with the amount of franchise cricket played globally, and Afghanistan cricketers playing alongside their English counterparts, they understand the players’ strengths and weaknesses.

This win will give the players a huge confidence boost. Ikram’s debut performance was excellent, both with the bat and behind the stumps. He played his first World Cup match in a long time, so this is a great achievement for him. There were many other outstanding individual performances from our boys, and Mujeeb was particularly impressive with the ball. The fact that many of our players have played with the English players in franchise cricket gives them a good understanding of their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, which is a significant advantage.

It’s easy to hold big Test-playing nations in high regard, but playing with their players shows that they’re human and that you have just as good a chance of winning. I’m really pleased for the guys, but England is a good side and they’ll bounce back.