On the eve of its World Cup fixture against Bangladesh, Afghanistan skipper Gulbadin Naib had cheekily warned his opponent of a possible upset. However, events transpired a little differently at the Hampshire Bowl as Bangladesh cruised past Afghanistan by 62 runs on Monday.
After suffering its seventh defeat in the tournament, Naib blamed poor fielding for his side's dismal performance.
“It was a slow wicket and good for batting but we missed a couple of catches and gave some extra runs,” Naib said.
“Shakib bowled really well but the misfields meant we missed opportunities again. We won the toss, which was a good thing, and we started really well. We didn’t bowl in the right areas in the first 10 overs, but we soon realised it would be a chaseable score,” said Naib, who is now Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker at this tournament with nine scalps.
READ : Shakib hits fifty, takes fifer and smiles away to victory
Naib also defended star spinner Rashid Khan, who went wicketless for the third in the World Cup 2019, saying the 20-year old is giving it his all.
“Rashid is where I want him, he is trying hard and giving his 100 percent,” he added.
"He is also disappointed about the fielding. We gave away extra runs. He missed his moment because of the fielding,” Gulbadin said.
With two games remaining in the ICC showpiece event, Afghanistan will play for pride when it takes on Pakistan in Headingley on Saturday.
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