Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan expresses joy after qualifying for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals for the first time in their history in an ICC event.

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 8 runs (DLS method) in a breathtaking match in St Vincent on Tuesday (June 25). Rashid Khan's miraculous spell of 4 wicket haul and cool-headed finish from Naveen-ul-Haq in the crucial death over took them to the semifinal in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for the very first time in history. 

“It's a dream for us to be in the semi-finals,” Rashid said after the match. “It's a massive celebration back home. It's a big achievement for us as well. We have done that at U-19 level but at this World Cup, I don't have any words to describe the feeling back home. We have to go into the semis with a very clear mind and make sure we enjoy the occasion.”

Opting to bat first, it was once again Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, started cautiously and kept the scoreboard ticking. The new ball bowlers of Bangladesh were on the money and didn’t allow both the openers to go big. Afghanistan were motoring on 58-0 after the halfway mark.

When Afghanistan needed to accelerate their innings, Bangladeshi bowlers started to rip through them. Getting wickets at regular intervals. They lost 5 wickets to score only 34 runs. Taskin bowled superbly with a maiden in the 12th over to put Afghanistan under enormous pressure. Afghanistan fumbled in the middle overs but Rashid pulled things back by scoring 15 runs off the last over to take Afghanistan to 115. 

In reply, Litton Das started with six and four to Naveen but Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell to Fazalhaq Farooqi for LBW. Litton was held on one end, but wickets kept tumbling on another end. Towhid Hridoy came with all the guns blazing to score some boundaries before falling to Rashid Khan.

Rashid came with lot inspiration to bring Afghanistan back as he removed Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain and Towhid Hridoy in the process to make it for Afghanistan. 

Bangladesh were stuttering on 81-7 and needing of 35 to win with 3 wickets in hands. Litton was fighting single handedly on a tough deck and brought up a fabulous fifty in fashion but he was out of assistance from the other batters.   Naveen then came in to take both the tailenders out and help Afghanistan to progress for the semifinal.