‘Match-winner Gurbaz can change a game anytime’: Hashmatullah Shahidi

Rahmanullah Gurbaz during his 80-run knock v England. Pic/PTI

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi on Tuesday hailed flamboyant shot-maker Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a World Cup "match-winner" as they plot the downfall of New Zealand. Afghanistan pulled off one of the greatest shocks in the history of the tournament when they defeated defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi on Sunday.

That victory was set up by Gurbaz's 57-ball 80, laced with eight boundaries and four sixes. Along with fellow opener Ibrahim Zadran (28), Afghanistan enjoyed a first wicket stand of 114.

Hashmatullah Shahidi

"Rahmanullah can change the game anytime," said Shahidi. "You know whenever I am talking to him, I am telling him ‘you are a match-winner'. He has a lot of impact on the games. "So whenever he does well, automatically, our team will perform well."

Gurbaz reprimanded

On the downside, Rahmanullah, was reprimanded on Tuesday for venting his frustration after being run-out, angrily smashing his bat against the boundary rope.

In a statement, the International Cricket Council said Gurbaz had broken the code relating to the "abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match." Afghanistan had lost both their opening games at the tournament before they stunned England, ending a 14-match World Cup losing streak stretching back to their 2015 debut. The victory was only their second at a World Cup.

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The bright side

"Definitely it was a big win against the defending champions for us," said Shahidi. "We had belief from the beginning of the tournament but the first two games didn't go our way. But still we had the belief and we beat England." Afghanistan's win in New Delhi followed losses to Bangladesh and hosts India.

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