If we look at it, Ireland and Afghanistan have barely done anything to justify their test status. Which is why I never compare Zimbabwe with these two, because Zimbabwe have done a bloody good job as a test playing nation over the last 30+ years. Something which Ireland and Afghanistan can only dream of as of now.
Afghanistan's lack of support for women's game is appaling to say the least and there is no reason why they shouldn't be stripped off test status. I'm just being fair here. They instead enjoy spending all the money on Men's game without having to worry about women and get a greater share than a team like Zimbabwe who have historically been a far greater and bigger test nation than Afghanistan can dream of.
Anyways, I think we are going to see another all white ball tour of Ireland come August.
Bit harsh on Afghanistan for the following reason. AFG have arguably out-achieved Bangladesh by coming within a whisker of the semifinal of an ODI world cup. Bangladesh have never won 4 games at a world cup, and have never beaten more than 2 top sides in a single tournament. the Afghans knocked off 3 top teams last year (England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan). And they almost beat eventual champions Australia.
Regarding Ireland, I've come to respect them tremendously over the past few months given their outspoken stance against colonialism and apartheid.
If we look at it, Ireland and Afghanistan have barely done anything to justify their test status. Which is why I never compare Zimbabwe with these two, because Zimbabwe have done a bloody good job as a test playing nation over the last 30+ years. Something which Ireland and Afghanistan can only dream of as of now.
Afghanistan's lack of support for women's game is appaling to say the least and there is no reason why they shouldn't be stripped off test status. I'm just being fair here. They instead enjoy spending all the money on Men's game without having to worry about women and get a greater share than a team like Zimbabwe who have historically been a far greater and bigger test nation than Afghanistan can dream of.
Anyways, I think we are going to see another all white ball tour of Ireland come August.
Bit harsh on Afghanistan for the following reason. AFG have arguably out-achieved Bangladesh by coming within a whisker of the semifinal of an ODI world cup. Bangladesh have never won 4 games at a world cup, and have never beaten more than 2 top sides in a single tournament. the Afghans knocked off 3 top teams last year (England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan). And they almost beat eventual champions Australia.
Regarding Ireland, I've come to respect them tremendously over the past few months given their outspoken stance against colonialism and apartheid.
What we seem to forget Kriterion is that teams like Kenya have made a WC Semi Final and have beaten the likes of India, Sri Lanka and West Indies in internationals including World Cups.
Zimbabwe also almost made the semi finals in 1999 WC and had beaten the likes of India, South Africa, Australia and England at World Cups.
So we cannot really say that Afghanistan have been coming of age based on their white ball exploits. It's all recency bias.
Bangladesh have achieved more in Test Cricket lately with test wins in NZ and SL, if I'm not wrong Bangladesh have test wins in West Indies as well. Afghanistan are miles off from that.
What we seem to forget Kriterion is that teams like Kenya have made a WC Semi Final and have beaten the likes of India, Sri Lanka and West Indies in internationals including World Cups.
Zimbabwe also almost made the semi finals in 1999 WC and had beaten the likes of India, South Africa, Australia and England at World Cups.
So we cannot really say that Afghanistan have been coming of age based on their white ball exploits. It's all recency bias.
Bangladesh have achieved more in Test Cricket lately with test wins in NZ and SL, if I'm not wrong Bangladesh have test wins in West Indies as well. Afghanistan are miles off from that.
The Kenya example is one of cricket's biggest fallacies. Kenya's 2003 WC campaign was actually less impressive than Bangladesh's in 2007. Kenya only progressed because they had two games forfeited as walkovers. The only top side Kenya beat was Sri Lanka and they qualified for the semi based on that. In 2007 Bangladesh beat India - one of the pre-tournament favorites + South Africa who were the #1 ranked ODI side at the time of the game.
Similar story with Zimbabwe. They beat India and SA in 1999...the exact same teams that Bangladesh beat in 2007.
Having said all that...I am not entirely sure if Afghanistan's 2023 performance was more than a fluke. Their performances in bilaterals since then seem to suggest either a lack of form or that 2023 was a fluke.
I just don't understand what ireland's political approach have to do with likening their cricket team lol. Could've just said something positive about their cricket as a justification rather.
I just don't understand what ireland's political approach have to do with likening their cricket team lol. Could've just said something positive about their cricket as a justification rather.
Irish cricket has been a bit inconsistent lately. They did get a convincing away Test win vs Afghanistan which is a pretty big achievement given how strong AFG are against those types of teams
