Afghanistan players were teary-eyed after their dramatic eight-run victory over Bangladesh to reach the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup at St Vincent on Tuesday. Afghanistan booked their place in the semis for the first time in their T20 World Cup history, along with India as the qualifiers from Group 1 and sending Australia home.
Bangladesh also had a chance to progress or send Australia through with a victory, but the Afghans dismissed them for 105 to take the win they needed to set up a first World Cup semi-final against South Africa in Trinidad on Wednesday.
It’s a dream for us: Rashid Khan on reaching semis
“It’s something like a dream for us as a team being in the semifinal. It’s all about the way we have started the tournament. The belief came while we beat NZ. I don’t have any words to describe the feeling. The only guy who put us in the semifinal was Brian Lara and we proved it right. I told him we won’t let you down,” said Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan after the win.
Afghanistan will now take on South Africa in the all-important semi-final clash of the T20 World Cup. The match will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium on June 27 (Thursday). After defeating several heavyweights in the tournament, Afghanistan will be hoping to trump the Proteas as well.