Aftab eyeing batting progress to take Afghanistan to next level

• Afghanistan restricted India to just 224/8 with the ball in Southampton but fell 11 runs short in their chase
• Pace bowler Aftab Alam says their batsmen using the full 50 overs will see Afghanistan kick on even further

Aftab Alam is convinced Afghanistan will soon be regularly challenging the best sides in the world, especially when their batsmen begin to consistently maximise the entire 50 overs.

Pace bowler Aftab took 1/54 as Afghanistan ran two-time ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup champions India desperately close at the Hampshire Bowl, restricting them to 224/8 before losing a thriller by 11 runs.

The Afghans – who have yet to record a win in the tournament – failed to see out the allotted overs in their opening four matches before batting through against England, albeit in a 150-run loss, and then being dismissed by India with just one ball to spare.

And Aftab claimed that after the England loss, the team focussed their batting practice on concentrating harder while at the crease – believing results will soon follow.

“We discussed the batting line-up and playing 50 overs,” he explained. “When we play 50 overs, we do our best cricket and get a good total to bowl at. The problem is in the batting.

“Our bowling department is very, very good. We will now try in our batting department. When we score 280 runs or even 260, it will be very difficult for the other team to chase.”

Aftab insists the team are making definite progress and are learning all the time from the World Cup experience.

“Unfortunately, we lost an easy game against Sri Lanka and also against India here from a strong position,” he added.

“We are learning day by day. We still have matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies, so we will do our best.

“We will really improve in the future and we will play good cricket. This is a good experience, the World Cup has the best teams in it.”

Aftab also praised his counterparts, the Indian fast bowlers, who first contained then dismissed the Afghanistan batsmen – with Mohammed Shami taking 4/40 and Jasprit Bumrah ending with figures of 2/39.

“We were happy with our bowling because 224 runs is easy to chase,” he said. “But there were some mistakes by the batsmen and the Indian bowlers bowled very well.

“India played good cricket, especially the bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. They did the job for the Indian team.

“The Afghanistan fans wanted to win the match against the top team in the World Cup."