'It's been a great effort from boys since game one' - Rashid Khan lauds teammates after advancing to Super 8 of T20 WC

Afghanistan's remarkable journey persisted with a resounding victory over Papua New Guinea, following a spirited bowling performance that dismissed their opponents for a mere 95 runs. Subsequently, Afghanistan effortlessly surpassed the target with seven wickets in hand and 29 deliveries to spare. This triumph not only secured their third win in the group stages but also confirmed their qualification for the Super Eight stage.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: PNG vs AFG, Match 29 Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats, and more

Skipper of Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, who went wicketless but was economical with 0/25 in his four, was understandably elated during the post-match presentation ceremony. He conveyed his immense satisfaction with the team's qualification for the next round. Rashid effusively praised his teammates, highlighting their collective effort and flawless execution of specific roles, which facilitated a seamless victory.

He also commended opening batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who, despite scoring only 11 runs in the match against PNG, currently leads the run-scorer chart with an impressive 167 runs at a strike rate of 154.62. Additionally, Rashid lauded left-arm pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi, who tops the list of leading wicket-takers with 12 wickets at an economy rate of 3.70, for his outstanding performance and aggressive bowling approach.

“I'm feeling great to qualify for the next round. It's been a great effort from the boys since game one. They know what to do and have executed beautifully, making things easy for me. It's important to have someone like him, Gurbaz who goes out and takes on the bowling, or Farooqi who picks up wickets in the powerplay,” stated Rashid during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Papua New Guinea vs Afghanistan, 29th Match - Who Said What?

With Afghanistan and the West Indies each securing victories in all three of their matches in Group C, it's been determined that they'll advance to the next round. Consequently, this outcome signifies the end of the road for New Zealand, who, despite having two matches remaining, no longer have any prospect of progressing further.