Rashid Khan Opens Up After Afghanistan’s Loss to New Zealand

Rashid Khan admitted Afghanistan missed key moments with the ball and during the powerplay in their T20 World Cup opener against New Zealand. He said the team had plans ready but could not execute them well on the field. Despite scoring a strong 182, Afghanistan lost the match by five wickets.

A Total That Looked Enough

Afghanistan put up 182 for six after being asked to bat first in Chennai. Gulbadin Naib played a calm but attacking knock, scoring 63 from 35 balls. His innings held the middle overs together and allowed others to play freely. Late runs from Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai pushed the score past 180, which Rashid felt was defendable on that pitch.

Early Breakthroughs Raised Hope

The bowling started on a positive note. Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck early, removing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra within the first two overs. New Zealand were under pressure at 14 for two. At that stage, Afghanistan looked in control and energy on the field felt strong.

Momentum Slipped in Middle Overs

Things changed quickly once Tim Seifert settled in. He attacked the bowlers and found support from Glenn Phillips. Their partnership shifted the game away from Afghanistan. Rashid later said too many easy balls were given during this phase, which made chasing comfortable for New Zealand.

Execution Was the Missing Part

Rashid was clear that plans were already discussed before the match. He said Plan A and Plan B were in place. The real issue was execution. Bowlers failed to hit the right areas often. On a slowing pitch, fuller and tighter lengths were needed, but that consistency was missing.

Learning From the Conditions

The Afghanistan captain felt the surface was not easy for free scoring if the ball was bowled into the wicket. He believed disciplined bowling could have made a big difference. According to him, the team will take these lessons seriously going forward.

Batting Positives Still Stand

Despite the defeat, Rashid praised Gulbadin Naib’s intent and awareness. He felt that innings showed how Afghanistan should bat in pressure games. Contributions from other batters also gave confidence that the batting unit is on the right path.

Focus on Powerplay Improvement

Looking ahead, Rashid highlighted the need to improve starts, both with bat and ball. He stressed that the first six overs decide momentum in T20 cricket. Afghanistan now shifts focus to their next Group D match against South Africa, aiming for a sharper and more disciplined performance.