Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures result

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CrimsonAvenger
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Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures result

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

This deserves a separate thread in itself, just so that we let the proceedings of the 5th ODI sink in: http://www.sportsbuzz.co.zw/2017/02/27/ ... ttacks-zc/

And some excerpts we must read:
Afghanistan cricket coach, Lalchand Rajput made scathing attacks on Zimbabwe Cricket’s lack of organisation and provision of basic equipment to deal with incessant rains during the just ended series which his team won 3-2.
...
Rain was predicted in the afternoon and it duly came at the lunch interval disrupting Zimbabwe’s run chase as 28 overs were lost.

But what caught the eyes of the near capacity crowd was seeing the Afghanistan players and some of their background staff helping the Harare Sports Club grounds men in making sure that the rain will not spill onto the wicket square which led to the abandonment of the first ODI which Afghanistan won.

It’s probably the first time in international cricket that a visiting team has helped the local grounds staff because they desperately wanted to win the series and make a statement to the International Cricket Council.
...
Afghanistan were not leaving things to chance as the first game of the series they won under D/L had taught them that any mistake with having water in the 30 yard circle will lead to the game being abandoned and the series would have been shared at 2 all.

This was a team who came to Harare with a mission. It wasn’t just another series but one of the most important since they applied for test status. A statement had to be made and a big one for that matter.

Afghanistan looked and played like Zimbabwe in the late 80’s and early 90’s on their road to test status.

All the hard work that has been put by the Afghanistan Cricket Board was on display throughout the series. You could see a team that was playing like the future of their cricket depended on this series.

Nothing was going to stand in their way in winning the series, not rain, not Zimbabwe’s inept administration. They decided to take matters into their own hands, giving the grounds men an extra hand to make sure that at least 20 overs of Zimbabwe’s run chase would be possible.

From the press box you could see Afghanistan team manager, Shirhamkar summoning all his players who were not in the playing eleven, backroom staff and some who had batted earlier in the day to try and help with ground preparation.

Asked why his players helped Harare Sports Club ground staff, Rajput who is from India spoke about the goals they had set before the tour and was surprised that a test nation like Zimbabwe didn’t have ground equipment like the Supper Sopper.

“Since it was the deciding the game we really wanted to play and make sure that we play at least a 20 overs game that’s the reason i said to the boys try and help (the ground staff)

“I am really surprised that Zimbabwe as a test playing country doesn’t have the Super Sopper because for any test playing country this is a must. Even the man power should have been increased because they knew that the series was on and the rains were also coming on and off. They should have been well prepared for that.”said Rajput the Afghanistan coach
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It such comments by the Indian native that highlights things that many involved in the local game have been saying about non-cricket people having taken over the running of cricket just to line up their pockets and milk the cow dry.
We must be ashamed to bits. Look how the Afghans ensured they get what they wanted from this. And how. We could not scratch around for 2 additional minutes in the first match to get the DL go our way. But look at the extent to which these guys have gone.

And Lalchand Rajput also fires a parting shot at ZC for good measure. Their desperation for win can win hearts too. We have forgotten what even competing means.

Googly
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Re: Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures resul

Post by Googly »

Big up for Brian Gorodema telling it as it is. He will cop some heat for that.

TapsC
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Re: Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures resul

Post by TapsC »

shameful to be honest. not only shows the state of affairs but also shows they knew we were going to bottle it.

Kriterion_BD
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Re: Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures resul

Post by Kriterion_BD »

Afghans are warriors by nature. And not just because of the recent WOT. They've been this way for centuries. Usually it leads to deeply regressive attitudes towards women and other practical affairs, but in this instance it teaches just how hard some people are willing to work. That martial culture instills self confidence and pride. There is an Afghan saying "A man without a gun is like a woman without jewelry; he lacks beauty. Every night we sleep with our guns under our pillows. And before we had guns, we had swords."

The Afghan team really reminds me of Bangladesh in many ways. A team no one gave a chance, Asian side, prone to collapses, but digs deep to pull out the win in the most testing circumstances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuZBykSzM (Noreaga - Blood Money Part 3)

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CrimsonAvenger
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Re: Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures resul

Post by CrimsonAvenger »

Kriterion_BD wrote:The Afghan team really reminds me of Bangladesh in many ways. A team no one gave a chance, Asian side, prone to collapses, but digs deep to pull out the win in the most testing circumstances.
That underlined part is where Afghans are way better than the Bangladeshis of yesteryears. If we are comparing the teams appropriately, i.e., as they entered the scene - initial few years - like Afghans are now, then that is precisely where they are miles ahead of BD, and similar to early years of Zim rather (late 1980s and early 1990s). BD of early years were more like current Zim - clueless as to how to go about a playing cricket game - let alone digging deep and winning it.

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Re: Afghan Coach attacks ZC, street smart team ensures resul

Post by Kriterion_BD »

CrimsonAvenger wrote:
Kriterion_BD wrote:The Afghan team really reminds me of Bangladesh in many ways. A team no one gave a chance, Asian side, prone to collapses, but digs deep to pull out the win in the most testing circumstances.
That underlined part is where Afghans are way better than the Bangladeshis of yesteryears. If we are comparing the teams appropriately, i.e., as they entered the scene - initial few years - like Afghans are now, then that is precisely where they are miles ahead of BD, and similar to early years of Zim rather (late 1980s and early 1990s). BD of early years were more like current Zim - clueless as to how to go about a playing cricket game - let alone digging deep and winning it.
Unless otherwise specified, most of my comparisons usually refer to Bangladesh 2010 onwards - the year we actually became a "competitive" international unit in Tests and ODIs. Meaning we didn't look like the clueless bunch you saw up until 2010.

But I still a lot of parallels with this Afghan side and Bangladesh, beyond the obvious ones. For example, both teams very recently collapsed in spectacular fashion. Afghans in the 4th ODI 121-5 to 129 all out chasing just 132. BD from 271-4 to 290 all out chasing 308 or something vs England. But the Afghans showed resilience on numerous occaisions, and Bangladesh too...WC vs England where the momentum shifted 10 times...the Test win vs England...several of the ODI wins vs NZ from a few years ago.

But even the pre-2010 Bangladesh had its moments. I don't know if you know, but the 2007 World Cup win vs India has gone done in Bangladeshi lore. As the story goes, Mashrafe ran into Kumble in the hotel before the game and Kumble made a off-hand remark about how India would be "tired after playing the semifinals by the time they showed up to tour Bangladesh". Mash didn't like that...it spurred him on...and he took a 4-fer and the Man of the Match, IIRC to knock India out. Was also bowling up to 144 kph in that match. Rest of the world cup was only around 135.

But yes, generally speaking, BD were clueless before 2010. But the Afghans have a long way to go still. They have only 2 wins vs Bangladesh against the top 9 sides, and one of those wins was with Tamim, Shakib, Mortaza, all out for various reasons. The way the Afghans are batting - unable to score against ZIM in all 19 bilateral ODIs - they won't get far vs the other teams. Their average total was just 180 odd in the 2015 World Cup and you saw how flat those wickets were with UAE, Scotland, Zimbabwe all scoring 300 mutliple times in the tournament witht he better sides hitting 400+. The Afghans are worth investing in, but they aren't the finished product yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjtuZBykSzM (Noreaga - Blood Money Part 3)

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