Under-19 World Cup: Afghanistan to create history against England in semi-finals

North Sound (Antigua), Jan 31 (PTI) Afghanistan team arrived late for the Under-19 World Cup, prompting the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reschedule its group stage matches but the team made it to the semi-finals. The decision to change the schedule of the global governing body proved and now the team will look to create history against England on Tuesday.

Changed the schedule of four matches of the tournament for Afghanistan’s team

The ICC has changed the schedule of four matches of the tournament for the Afghanistan team and will now look to create history by defeating England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the top U-19 level competition. The team will take inspiration from the same legend after whom the stadium is named.

Afghanistan have never made it to the final of the Under-19 World Cup and will create history if they beat England in the semi-finals.

The team could not reach for the tournament on time due to visa issues. The team’s journey to the last four, however, was no less dramatic.

Batting first, after losing the toss against Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals, Afghanistan’s team could score only 134 runs. At the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua, however, the team’s bowlers worked magic to beat Sri Lanka for 130 runs in 46 overs.

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Afghanistan went on to win all three of their matches in the group stage after securing the necessary approvals to tour the West Indies.

Afghanistan’s team has made it to the Super League semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup for only the second time. Earlier in 2018, the team reached the last four in New Zealand as well.

There is no doubt that the England team will be the biggest challenge for Afghanistan so far

The England team is known for its batting skills in limited overs cricket. Jacob Bethel can prove to be a problem for the Afghanistan bowlers.

The Warwickshire all-rounder stunned in England’s quarter-final win over South Africa at the same ground. He scored 88 runs in 42 balls at a strike rate of 209.52. This is the highest strike rate among England batsmen to score at least 50 runs in the Under-19 World Cup.

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Born in Barbados and idolized Sir Garfield Sobers, Bethel has so far scored 201 runs in four innings of the tournament with the help of two half-centuries. His average is 50.25 while the strike rate is 112.92.

England’s team will be expecting another good performance from him against Afghanistan. The team, however, has many other capable players who can single-handedly win matches.