"Afghanistan are top contenders to win the World Cup in these conditions" - Mohammad Kaif on 2024 T20 World Cup
Mohammad Kaif reckons Afghanistan are a top contender to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. He noted that Rashid Khan and company can beat any team in Caribbean conditions if their batting fires.
Afghanistan have won their first three Group C games and qualified for the Super Eights. They are clubbed alongside India and Australia in Group 1 in the Super Eights, with Bangladesh potentially joining them as the fourth team.
While speaking on Star Sports, Kaif opined that Afghanistan are a strong candidate to lift the 2024 T20 World Cup.
"Afghanistan are in good form. Their bowling is in form, where Fazalhaq Farooqi has even picked up a five-wicket haul and Rashid Khan is in form. If we talk about the two openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, they are in great form. Afghanistan are top contenders to win the World Cup in these conditions," he reasoned.
The former India batter noted that Rashid Khan and company have the advantage of having played all their group games in the West Indies.
"They are playing all their matches here (in the West Indies). They didn't go to the USA at all. Spending two or three weeks there, they exactly know how to bowl and bat on which pitch. They have got an idea of the conditions and their players have form," Kaif observed.
Afghanistan beat Uganda and New Zealand in Guyana before defeating Papua New Guinea in Trinidad. They will face co-hosts West Indies in their final group game in Saint Lucia, with all the Super Eight and knockout games also being played in the Caribbean.
"Their problem was batting" - Mohammad Kaif on Afghanistan
Mohammad Kaif noted that if Rahmanullah Gurbaz fires with the bat and Afghanistan post a decent total, they could upset any side.
"Their problem was batting. If their batters fire, Gurbaz gives a good start, and runs are put on the board, they have the bowling to beat the greatest of teams on their day. I have spoken about Rashid Khan and we saw Farooqi's shape and swing. He is in exceptional form," he said during the same discussion.
The cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Afghanistan will be tough to beat on spin-friendly West Indies pitches.
"If their batting keeps working properly, it will be difficult to beat Afghanistan in such conditions where the pitches are slightly slow and the ball is turning. They can win the World Cup also because they have the team and players in form," Kaif stated.
In the same discussion, Vinay Kumar added that Dwayne Bravo's presence as a bowling coach is a big advantage for Afghanistan. He noted that the former West Indies all-rounder knows the conditions well and how to bowl at the death and use the pitches in the Caribbean.