Afghanistan has put up a really inspiring display in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as they have played some really good cricket beating teams nobody expected them to as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 progressed. This is the third ICC Cricket World Cup Afghanistan is participating and ahead of this edition, they had only a single win in the 2015 edition where they beat Scotland in the group stages. In the nine games played in the 2019 edition, they came closer to victory at times but failed to cross the line. This time they were more mature, experienced and filled with more finished talents and have found the right time and place to express themselves and shock the big boys of world cricket. Most Runs in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Afghanistan's spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi has always been threatening. Noor Ahmed has added further depth to it. The game changers has been the breakout stars Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Azamtullah Omarzai supported by the experienced Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi who make the batting lineup far more well-rounded and consistent. Their performance had really put them as a dark horse in the semifinal race. Most Wickets in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Afghanistan’s CWC 2023 Points Table Position

Position Played Won Lost N/R Tied NRR Points
6th 9 4 5 0 0  -0.336 8

Afghanistan's Schedule at ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Date Match Venue Result
Oct 0 Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala Bangladesh won by 6 wickets
Oct 11 Afghanistan vs India Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi India won by 8 wickets
Oct 15 Afghanistan vs England Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Afghanistan won by 69 runs
Oct 18 Afghanistan vs New Zealand MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai New Zealand won by 149 runs
Oct 23 Pakistan vs Afghanistan MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai Afghanistan won by 8 wickets
Oct 30 Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
Nov 03 Netherlands vs Afghanistan Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow  Afghanistan won by 7 wickets
Nov 07 Australia vs Afghanistan Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai  Afghanistan lost by three wickets
Nov 10 South Africa vs Afghanistan Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad  Afghanistan lost by 5 wickets

Did Afghanistan Qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Semi-Final? 

No, unfortunately not. Despite all the brave showing from Hashmatullah Shahidi and his team, they were not able to make it through to the semifinals of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, what would have been a memorable achievement for them. Afghanistan looked to be alive in the race and came really close to pulling off a massive win over Australia, only to be denied by a Glenn Maxwell special at the Wankhede Stadium on November 7. A loss to the Proteas did not help either with the Afghans finishing in sixth place, with a total of eight points from nine matches.

They can take heart from the fact that they beat three former champions in this edition of the World Cup, something that no one had expected them to pull off. Moreover, their sixth-place finish means they have qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025, a tournament where they will be competing for the very first time.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2023 11:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).