Dubai: When Test debutants Afghanistan were mauled by India inside two days in Bengaluru last year, questions were raised if they were being rushed into the longest format of the game a bit too soon. A little more than an year later, young Rashid Khan and his men stunned the cricketing fraternity when they humbled fancied Bangladesh by 224 runs in the one-off Test in Chittagong on Monday — touching Australia’s record of being quickest to notch up two Test wins in a row.
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This was only the third Test match for the Afghans and they have won both their red ball contests this year — beating Ireland, who made the grade together to be a Test-playing nation in 2017, and now Bangladesh. The Afghan showing certainly puts them one-up on Bangladesh, who were granted Test status way back in 2000 but had to wait for nearly five years for their first win against Zimbabwe.
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The fairytale journey of Afghanistan in white ball cricket, who qualified for the last two 50-over World Cups and have been a regular feature now for the World T20, has been too well documented in recent times. The win over a higher ranked Bangladesh in a Test has come as a surprise for the top brass of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), but they are not willing to get overwhelmed by the success.
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“The way our players have been performing, they certainly deserved that win. I think it was a good example for other nations to take note of us,” said Asadullah Khan, CEO of the board.
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Speaking to Gulf News over phone from Kabul, the official struck a realistic note when he said: “We didn’t expect Bangladesh to make such a suicidal move of going for a spinner-friendly wicket.” Rashid, arguably one of the best leg-spinners of the world at the moment, ended with a 11-wicket haul in the match to be adjudged Man of the Match.
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Asked if this victory would inspire Afghanistan to change their blueprint in the longer format, Asadullah said: “Our expectations are obviously more than just looking to play more Test matches, we want to be the worldbeaters. However, our batting remains a cause of worry.”
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The news of victory sparked wild celebrations back in Kabul, with Shafiq Stanikzai, former CEO of the Afghan board, sharing a video of a bunch of Afghan kids celebrating moment on social media. “This is what it means to us as Nation, love u all #BlueTigers. @rashidkhan_19 u r a living super star in the cricket lobe@MohammadNabi007 am sure u must be happy for such a wonderful ending of ur test career (sic.)” he tweeted.
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A crestfallen Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan has, meanwhile, taken full responsibility for the home defeat and said it would be best if someone else took over the captaincy.
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“It will be best if I didn’t have to lead,” Shakib told reporters after the match. “I personally believe it will be good for my game.
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“And if I have to continue leading, then obviously there is a lot to discuss about (with the board).”
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