Team Afghanistan Preview - Call them minnows at your own peril

Much like how the progress of Srilankan Cricket was the story of 90s, its all about Afghanistan Cricket in this decade. Considering the situation, funds & the kind of facilities available to them, they are team who have risen against all odds thanks to the passion in which they approach the sport. In last two editions of the IPL, there have been more Afghan players that have featured then Srilankan, that speaks about how they have risen their game. On the big stage, in the last played Asia Cup, they beat Bangladesh & Srilanka comprehensively, had a tied game with India only to lose out on a place in the final due to close cliffhanging defeat against Pakistan 

Initially they were a team where if the conditions are favoring spin, they can cause the odd upset. But in the recent times its their batting that has really picked up & started to show glimpses of brilliance. If you take them lightly, they will haunt you !

Likely XI
1) Mohammad Shehzad
2) Hazratullah Zazai
3) Rahmat Shah
4) Asghar Afghan
5) Hashmatullah Shahidi
6) Mohammad Nabi
7) Gulbadin Naib
8) Rashid Khan
9) Dawlat Zadran
10) Aftab Alam
11) Mujeeb Ur Rehman

Bench
1) Samiullah Shenwari - Reserve Spinning Allrounder
2) Najibullah Zadran - Reserve Batsmen
3) Hamid Hassan - Reserve Fast Bowler
4) Noor Ali Zadran  - Reserve Batsmen

Verdict - I dont see them making the Top 4. But if they can finish mid table, they should be really proud of their performance on the Big Stage