New Delhi, Feb 16 – Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott praised opener Ibrahim Zadran’s mental strength after his match-winning 53 helped the team chase down 161 against the UAE, saying the young player showed the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Zadran scored 53 off 41 balls while Azmatullah Omarzai's 40 not out ensured Afghanistan completed the chase with four balls to spare, despite the UAE bowlers putting up a strong fight.
This result also means Afghanistan maintains its slim chances of reaching the Super Eights, although it could be jeopardized if New Zealand beats Canada in Chennai on Tuesday. Zadran played a key role in securing Afghanistan's first points in the tournament.
“It was fantastic. Ibrahim clearly had two disappointing performances, but he showed the mental strength to bounce back and play well,” Trott said. “He was set against New Zealand, and in good form against South Africa. But Ibrahim's strength is that he always finds a way to perform, and he did today.”
Trott also emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s opening partnership. “I’d like to see their opening record against the best players in the world. I think they have a fantastic record batting together. That’s a real strength for us. Losing early wickets can be a problem, but Ibrahim’s ability to remain calm and play good cricket shots was brilliant today,” he added.
Reflecting on the close finish, Trott said the team showed resilience in closing out a tight chase, especially after a heartbreaking defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad.
“We played well and were under pressure. But that's what I wanted to see. It would have been easier, but at the end of the day, when we performed under pressure, that's a great sign. We've lost close games before, and it's been hard to recover. But this time, we showed resilience, both mentally and in our cricket,” he said.
Trott also called for more opportunities for Afghanistan to play against different teams. “I believe that Afghanistan needs more exposure against different teams, especially in different conditions. We should play bilateral series against teams like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, and other teams from the subcontinent,” he said.
Allrounder Gulbadin Naib echoed Trott’s sentiments. “Every match is a challenge for us, regardless of the opponent,” he said. “We need to play against different teams and in different conditions to improve our game. We have been playing against the UAE for a long time, and we know their strengths and weaknesses. But playing against other teams will help us to adapt and improve.”
Naib also praised the team’s performance after the defeat to South Africa. “The atmosphere in the team created everything. It was a high-pressure game, and it was not easy. But our players showed great character and effort,” he said.
Naib also highlighted the importance of the team’s belief and confidence. “We believe in our skills and we look at ourselves. We don’t look at the opposition, because we treat every team the same. This is important for our success,” he said.
Finally, Naib expressed his relief that the batters have stepped up over the years to make Afghanistan a strong chasing outfit and take the load off the bowlers.
“At one time it seemed tough, but still, our chasing style, which the boys have been doing, and this belief has led to us knowing that we can do it. Earlier, all the pressure was on the bowlers, but now the batters are doing the job,” he added.
