CHENNAI: Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi on Tuesday hailed flamboyant shot-maker Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a World Cup “match-winner” as they plot the downfall of New Zealand.

Afghanistan pulled off one of the greatest shocks in the history of the tournament when they defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi on Sunday.

That victory was set up by Gurbaz’s 57-ball 80, laced with eight boundaries and four sixes.

Along with fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran (28), Afghanistan enjoyed a first wicket stand of 114.

“Rahmanullah [Gur­baz] can change the game anytime,” said Shahidi. “You know whenever I am talking to him, I am telling him ‘you are a match winner’. He has a lot of impact on the games.

“So whenever he does well, automatically, our team will perform well.”

On the downside, Rahmanullah, was reprimanded on Tuesday for venting his frustration after being run-out, angrily smashing his bat against the boundary rope.

In a statement, the International Cricket Council said Gurbaz had broken the code relating to the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.”

Afghanistan had lost both their opening games at the tournament before they stunned England, ending a 14-match World Cup losing streak stretching back to their 2015 debut.

The victory was only their second at a World Cup.

“Definitely it was a big win against the defending champions for us,” said Shahidi.

“We had belief from the beginning of the tournament but the first two games didn’t go our way. But still we had the belief and we beat England.”

Afghanistan’s win in New Delhi followed losses to Bangladesh and hosts India.

Shahidi also praised all-rounder Mujeeb Ur Rahman, also one of the architects of the win over England.

Due to the security situation in their own country, Afgha­nistan have played most of their international cricket in the UAE and in India, a factor that Shahidi sees as a benefit.

“India was our home for two or three years,” said Shahidi, whose team had a preparatory camp in Chennai ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

“We are used to this ground. On this ground, we had a preparation camp for the 2019 World Cup and spent 40 days here. So, all these things give us a lot of advantages.”

Afghanistan go into Tuesday’s game having lost both their previous ODIs against New Zealand, at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups by six and seven wickets respectively.

NZ MUST ADAPT: LATHAM

Meanwhile, New Zea­land captain Tom Latham said adapting to sub-continental pitches and success with the ball in the middle overs are key to continuing New Zealand’s winning mom­entum at the World Cup.

Lotham replaced Kane Williamson as New Zealand skipper after the latter’s tournament-ending injury in Friday’s eight-wicket win over Bangla­desh, which made it three wins in three matches for the 2015 and 2019 finalists.

“For us it’s about trying to adapt to each surface as best we can,” Lotham told a press conference on Tuesday.

“Some surfaces may be different to others and they may change throughout a 50-over innings… if we do that I think that gives us a good chance.

“I think it’s always the challenge in white-ball cricket, how to stay aggressive through the middle stages when things don’t tend to happen as quickly… we’ve always tried to be proactive and always looking to take wickets in some way.”

New Zealand, who are unbeaten in this World Cup so far, are playing against Afghanistan after winning their opener against England and following it up with wins over the Netherlands and Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2023