ODI World Cup 2023: Rashid Khan expresses gratitude for crowd support following Afghanistan’s surprising victory over England

Star Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has expressed his delight at the overwhelming support his team received during their remarkable victory over defending champions England at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The World Cup clash was perceived as a David versus Goliath encounter. But it drew a sizable crowd in Delhi, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the match.

Afghanistan who was fueled by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s sensational 80 and a solid fifty from Ikram Alikhil. It was due to these innings which helped Afghanistan post a formidable total of 285. The pitch provided assistance to spinners and movement for Afghanistan’s pacers, especially in the evening. Fazalhaq Farooqi’s early breakthrough by dismissing Jonny Bairstow set the tone. After that the Afghanistan’s bowlers, including Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi, maintained pressure on England.

Rashid Khan, along with other Afghan spinners, created difficulties for England. Along with that Naveen-ul-Haq’s delivery to dismiss Jos Buttler being particularly noteworthy. The stadium along with Afghan fans, provided a vibrant atmosphere and a picturesque backdrop for a neutral match.

As Afghanistan closed in on the victory, the crowd’s support visibly swayed in their favor. This support also marked a significant moment for Afghan cricket. The team’s all-around performance, backed by the passionate crowd, resulted in a memorable triumph. This victory against the 2019 champions, showcased Afghanistan’s growing prowess in international cricket. Taking to Twitter Rashid thanked fans for their support;

“Delhi sach mein dil walon ki hai,” Rashid Khan said in a post on X on Monday.

“A huge thank you to all the fans at the stadium who supported us and kept us going through out the game And to all our supporters around the world, thank you for your love,” he added.

Afghanistan secured their second win in World Cup history

A substantial crowd has attended the three matches held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The capital city is set to host two additional matches: Australia vs Netherlands on October 24 and Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka on November 6.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman was honored with the Player of the Match award, marking the third instance in World Cup history where defending champions faced an upset. Afghanistan’s triumph over England was only their second win in World Cup history and their first since 2015, bringing their overall record to 2 victories in 18 tournament matches.