ICC T20 World Cup: Rashid Khan Receives Congratulatory Call from Afghanistan Foreign Minister After Reaching Semis

Afghanistan cricket team scripted history by making it to their first-ever semifinal of an ICC tournament as they reached the final four of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.

The Afghan unit sealed progress to the semis with a win thrilling win over Bangladesh in the final Super 8 game as they got the beating of the seasoned Bangla Tigers at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Following the historic victory, the team’s skipper Rashid Khan was congratulated by Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi over a video call.

Afghanistan won the crucial coin toss and opted to bat first as opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the way from the front yet again. He notched up a 59 run stand for the first wicket alongside Ibrahim Zadran before the latter could be sent back for 18 runs by Rishad Hossain.

Azmatullah Omarzai, who came in to bat at No.3 was scalped for 10 runs by Mustafizur Rahman, before Gurbaz fell to Hossain after having made a patient 43 runs.

Hossain picked up his third wicket of the day as he dismissed Gulbadin Naib for 4 runs off just 3 balls. The experienced Mohammad Nabi was scalped for just a single run by Taksin Ahmed, before Rashid and Karim Janat remained unbeaten at 19 and 7 to close out the innings as Afghanistan put up 115 runs in 20 overs.

Afghanistan got their defence off to a brilliant start as Fazalah Farooqui sent Tanzid Hassan back to the hut for a duck in the second over before Naveen-ul-Haq scalped opposition skipper Najmul Shanto for five runs.

Naveen doubled his wicket tally with the scalp of the season Shakib Al Hasan for a golden duck as he caught him off his own bowling.

Rashid got in on the act with the ball as he dismissed Soumya Sarkar for 10 runs before removing Towhid Hridoy for 14 in his next over. Rashid added the scalp of the dangerous Mahmadullah for 6 runs, before completing his four-wicket haul with the dismissal of Hossain for a duck on the very next ball.

The game was reduced by an over due to the second spell of rain on the day and Bangladesh had a revised target to chase.

Gulbadin scaped the wicket of Tanzim Hasan, before Ahmed was castled by Naveen. The pacer picked up his fourth of the day as he trapped Mustafizur in front of the wicket to bundle out Bangladesh for 105 runs and secure an 8-run win while Litton Das remained unbeaten at 54 as his knock went in vain.

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