3 teams that should be wary of Afghanistan in the World Cup

Afghanistan is a team that has seen major progress in recent times. Some significant performances of theirs can be seen in the recently-concluded three-match Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh where they won 3-0 and in the Asia Cup, where they played magnificently well, topping their group by defeating Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and fighting hard against Pakistan in the Super Four stage. They also managed to tie a match with India.

With the emergence of players like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan Cricket Team has become a great force in world cricket. Cricket in Afghanistan emerged in the mid-1950s only and they have travelled a long way to stand where they are positioned right now.

In not only just in their home conditions or the sub-continent grounds, but Afghan players have impressed all fans and cricket players by doing well in almost all major T20 Leagues played around the world.

Afghanistan have already qualified for the upcoming World Cup by winning the Qualifiers earlier this year. Here is the list of three such teams who can face a major scare against the Afghans in the upcoming tournament in England.

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#3 West Indies

West Indian Cricket team players celebrating

The current situation of the West Indian team in cricket is quite miserable leaving aside the T20I format. Their major players are refusing to play for the national side due to their T20 Leagues contracts all around the world.

The board has stuck with their existing players only without experimenting much but there is a lack of consistency. Their team lost against the Afghans in the World Cup Qualifiers as well, which means that they have to be extra cautious against the side of Asghar Afghan.

Afghanistan will play their last scheduled game of this World cup against the Windies at Headingley, Leed on July 04, 2019 (Thursday).

#2 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka v England - 2nd One Day International

Beside the West Indies, Sri Lanka is another team whose cricketing standards have deteriorated in current days. After the departure of their great players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, TM Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas etc from the side, they have taken a lot of time in the transition process as they still struggle to find the right combination.

They still have star players Thisara Perera, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga and Upul Tharanga in their side but they go through a lot of injury issues and as a result, the former World Cup winners stand eighth in the ICC Team Rankings chart right now. Sri Lanka lost both their matches in this Asia Cup out which one was against Afghanistan only.

After seeing their such performances, it becomes really hard to believe that they played World Cup finals seven years back against India at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in April 2011.

Sri Lanka has their match scheduled against Afghanistan on June 04, 2019 at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

#1 Bangladesh

New Zealand v Bangladesh - 2nd ODI

Another team against whom Afghanistan has a strong chance of winning in this World Cup is Bangladesh as both teams stand at almost par when it comes to limited overs format. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are the two sides that have risen in the international cricket in the past some time only.

Though Bangladesh has a slight advantage due to their experience but it is expected to be a high voltage match and grab a lot of attention keeping in mind their encounters of this Asia Cup.

In their matches of this Asia Cup, Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by a massive margin of 136 runs in their first meet while in their second match, they lost it by a paltry three runs to miss out from playing the finals.

The Asian sides will be against each other on June 24, 2019 (Monday) at the Rose Bowl, Southampton.