Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan admitted that he was worried about another Glenn Maxwell heist during the Australia clash on June 23, Sunday in St. Vincent. Maxwell had famously scored 201 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai to help Australia record an improbable win against Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup 2023. During the Super 8 clash on Sunday, it did seem like the all-rounder would pull off the heist once again.
Maxwell looked to be in fine nick and scored 59 runs off 41 balls and seemed set to help Australia chase down the 149 target set by Afghanistan. However, Gulbadin Naib was able to end the stay of the all-rounder as Afghanistan would go on to secure their first win against the Aussies in international cricket. Rashid said during the post-match press conference that he couldn’t sleep after Maxwell’s heroics in Mumbai.
The Afghan skipper admitted that the knock kept coming back into his mind but joked he wouldn’t be sleeping tonight because of happiness.
“Yeah, I think so. I think I can sleep better now. But that was a night which didn’t let me sleep. The game kept coming into my mind and it was 90 plus percent we were in the game and Maxi the way he played that that night took the game away from us and definitely I didn’t sleep whole night and I feel like tonight because of the happiness I won’t be able to sleep. That’s how happy the whole team is in the whole country,” said Rashid.
Rashid said that the win was massive for Afghanistan as a team and a nation and the energy from such a victory would definitely keep anyone awake the entire night.
“And it’s a massive win for us as a team, as a nation. It’s not just like a bilateral game. It’s a World Cup game, and definitely in a World Cup, you’re beating a best side. It’s a great achievement. And you’re the winners of 2021 World Cup. So, beating a team like that, I think it always gives you so much energy and doesn’t let you to sleep as well,” said Rashid.
Afghanistan will now play their final Super 8 game on June 25 against Bangladesh, with the semi-final qualification still up for grabs.
