Afghanistan made a strong start to their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, crushing debutants Uganda by 125 runs in a one-sided affair at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.
Opting to bat first winning the toss, Afghanistan rode on a record-breaking 154-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz (76 off 45 balls) and Ibrahim Zadran (70 off 48 balls) to post a mammoth 183/5 in their 20 overs. The partnership is now the highest for any wicket in T20 World Cup history.
Gurbaz and Zadran took full advantage of the good batting conditions, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat and the outfield being quick. Uganda’s bowlers struggled to find their rhythm, with Bilal Hassan’s 25-run over that included five no-balls and five wides proving particularly costly.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan would have been pleased with his team’s batting performance, which saw them score at over 11 runs per over in the powerplay. The experienced duo of Alpesh Ramjani and Brian Masaba provided some respite for Uganda, picking up two wickets each in the middle overs to restrict Afghanistan to 183.
In response, Uganda’s chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost their first five wickets for just 18 runs on the board. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq were the chief architects of Uganda’s downfall, with the former picking up two wickets in the first over and the latter dismissing two batters in his first over.
Robinson Obuya provided some late resistance for Uganda, smashing a six to get his team off the mark in the tournament. However, it was too little too late as Uganda was bowled out for just 58 in 16 overs, losing by a massive 125 runs.
Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the Afghan bowlers, finishing with figures of 5/12 in his four overs. Rashid Khan’s team will be delighted with their clinical performance, which showcased their batting depth and bowling prowess.
For Uganda, this was a harsh introduction to the big state of international cricket. However, captain Brian Masaba remained upbeat, stating that the experience of playing against a quality side like Afghanistan will only help his team grow.
The math also saw Uganda’s Frank Nsubuga create history by becoming the oldest player to feature in the T20 World Cup at the age of 43. Despite the lopsided result, the Ugandan team can take pride in their achievement of making it to the World Cup and will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, will be aiming to build on this impressive win and establish itself as one of the favorites to win the tournament. With their spin-heavy attack and powerful batting lineup, they have the potential to cause problems for any team on their day.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 progresses, the Afghanistan vs Uganda match will be remembered as a historic occasion, with Uganda making its debut on the global stage. While the result may not have gone their way, the experience gained by the African team will be invaluable as they look to make their mark in the cricketing world.