AFG vs WI: Ikram Ali Khil breaks Sachin Tendulkar's World Cup record

The Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batsman registers the highest score by an 18-year-old in the World Cup.

Published : Jul 05, 2019 11:44 IST

Ikram Ali Khil walks back after being dismissed on Thursday. Photo: AP
Ikram Ali Khil walks back after being dismissed on Thursday. Photo: AP
lightbox-info

Ikram Ali Khil walks back after being dismissed on Thursday. Photo: AP

Afghanistan batsman Ikram Ali Khil registered the highest score by an 18-year-old in the World Cup during his team’s 23-run loss to West Indies here on Thursday. Sachin Tendulkar held the record before him, having scored 84 as an 18-year-old at the 1992 edition.

“I’m very proud to have broken the record of a legend like Tendulkar. It makes me very happy,” Ali Khil, the wicket-keeper batsman, said.

REPORT |Windies sign off on a winning note

For Ikam, the role model isn’t Tendulkar but fellow left-hand batsman Kumar Sangakkara. “Kumar Sangakkara is always in mind and my thoughts when I am batting out there,” said Ikram, who is yet to meet the Sri Lankan great.

'World class' Sangakkara

“[Sangakkara’s] ability to rotate strike and find a boundary when needed, that is what made him a world class batsman. That is what I try to copy as much as I can,” Ikram said.

Ikram was disappointed not to score a century. He said: “I’m very happy that I scored 86 runs which was the top score for Afghanistan. No one had crossed that mark in nine games but I’m disappointed at the same time because I thought I could score a hundred. Hopefully in the games ahead I will score a hundred for Afghanistan.”

Ikram was part of Afghanistan’s squad that progressed to the semifinals of the U-19 World Cup in 2018.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment