T20 World Cup: ‘We don’t look...’ - Rashid Khan reacts to experts predicting Afghanistan to reach semifinals

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan is confident of his team's run in T20 World Cup 2024, being held in the West Indies and USA. Many former cricketers and experts of the game have predicted that Afghanistan would reach the semifinals. The legspinner opened up on the predictions being made by the pundits and said that it is only a positive sign for the team -- highlighting their growth over the years -- ahead of their tournament opener versus Uganda, on Tuesday (Jun 4). Afghanistan impressed one and all in the last ICC event, i.e. the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and narrowly missed out on a semifinal spot.

Ahead of Afghanistan's match versus Uganda, Rashid said, "A few people, they have mentioned Afghanistan is going to be there for semis. But we take that as a very positive sign, and something is there for us. Before, it used to be Afghanistan even contribution was harder for us to get qualified. And now to be nominated [nominated by experts], to be there in the top four. I think it's big for us, but for us, we don't look to those things a lot."

'Nothing is impossible for us as a team'

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Rashid further highlighted how the last ODI WC performance has instilled faith in the team. He opined, "It's all about how we're going to be there in the ground, delivering. We were very near in the last World Cup [ODI World Cup] as well to be in the semis. We were just one game away from being in the semis and that's where I feel like the belief started that nothing is impossible and for us as a team. So yeah, looking forward we are really excited about this World Cup but as I said before as well, we take one game at a time and then see how it goes."

Rashid even stressed that Afghanistan are well prepared to handle the burden of expectations, emphasising that it isimportant for modern-day cricketers to perform under pressure.

In this regard, he stated, "Well, I feel in cricket there is always pressure. Either you play ICC events, or you play bilateral series, whatever the game you play, or any of the side against you play, there is always pressure. And for me, it's very simple. When there is pressure, you have to stick to your basics and you believe that basics what you can do and what is possible and what is under control."

"I feel that is more important than what people expect. So, the pressure will be there, but for us, and we need to keep it simple. We give 100% and you can't control that, like - the result. I think it's not under control. So, something not under our control, I feel like we better not think about it. And the pressure is always there, always there. But the more important thing is like, we stick to our basics, we do the right things, and we believe. I think that's the most important thing. I feel like we should do even under lots of pressure as well," Rashid added.

Afghanistan are placed in Group C in the 20-nation T20 WC, along with co-hosts West Indies, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Uganda.