Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on Afghanistan as their impressive World Cup 2023 journey concluded, labeling them the second-best Asian team in the tournament. Despite falling short of the semifinals, Afghanistan’s performance garnered praise, with Pathan commending their top-quality cricket.
Led by skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan’s campaign stood out as a fairytale, marked by victories against cricket powerhouses Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England. Notably, they had only secured two World Cup wins before this remarkable tournament.
In their final group match against South Africa, Afghanistan displayed resilience, posting 244 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai’s impressive unbeaten 97. Despite their efforts, South Africa secured victory by five wickets.
Pathan, a vocal supporter of Afghanistan, expressed his admiration for their cricketing prowess throughout the tournament. He declared Afghanistan as the second-best Asian team, trailing only behind India.
In a tweet, he applauded their performance and expressed hope for the team to continue creating magic on the field.
“Top quality cricket by Afghanistan this World Cup. Second best Asian team for sure. Hopefully from here on this team will create magic on the field. Good luck going forward @ACBofficials @rashidkhan_19,” he wrote on X.