Afghanistan’s meteoric rise – when talent met discipline

Afghanistan's meteoric rise – when talent met discipline

Their run in the ongoing Champions Trophy might be all but over, but Afghanistan have once again made a mark through their defining performance against England. The defeat to South Africa, while not unexpected, did stir Hashmatullah Shahidi's side, as their bowling on a reasonably favourable surface left a lot to be desired. However, the victory against England showed exactly why Afghanistan are to be feared in white-ball cricket.

The key point of that win was that it wasn't a solo effort that got them across the line. While Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai stole the limelight with their performances, the result was the reward of their preparation ahead of the tournament which helped the team to grow from strength to strength in the 50-over format.

Afghanistan came into the tournament after winning four ODI series on the trot. They sealed victories against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe en route to the Champions Trophy. These results validate the fact that Afghanistan are steadily making a proper transition to the ODI format after having been associated as a T20 side for far too long. Their impressive run in the 2023 ODI World Cup was the first step in that direction and this win over England further strengthens the narrative that they are on the way up. Given that most of their players are active across T20 leagues through the year, this adaptability is no mean feat.

Afghanistan's fielding coach Shane McDermott told Cricbuzz that they are reaping the benefit of long-term planning and preparation.

"Afghanistan's progress has been built on consistency, confidence, and a focus on being the best at consistently doing the little things that require no talent – the fundamentals," said McDermott.

"Since the ODI World Cup, the team has matured in all aspects – batting, bowling, and fielding. We've worked on improving fitness, agility, and mental resilience, ensuring that the team can perform as well as possible under pressure," he said.

"Preparation-wise, we've focused on nailing the basics – match simulations, decision-making under pressure, and refining key skills to compete at the highest level consistently," he said.

McDermott also revealed that they are meticulous in their plans in both the batting and bowling departments. While individual flair is undeniable, the Australian felt that it is the attention to detail that has made them progress at a rapid rate.

"Afghanistan is extremely disciplined in planning. The team spends a lot of time analyzing opponents, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and preparing strategies accordingly," said McDermott.

"Bowlers work on specific matchups, while batters focus on adapting to different conditions. Fielding has become more structured, with key performance indicators to measure progress. The team is driven to improve, and that's reflected in their approach to preparation," he said.