Afghanistan has made history by reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals for the first time. They secured an eight-run win over Bangladesh in a rain-affected thriller in St Vincent, which also knocked out the 2021 champions, Australia, from the tournament.
This win came after a dramatic day where Australia's earlier defeat to India had already put them in a precarious position, needing multiple scenarios to progress.
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How did Najibullah Zadran react to Pat Cummins' bold predictions?
Afghanistan batter Najibullah Zadran couldn't resist poking fun at Australian pacer Pat Cummins after Australia failed to qualify for the semifinals.
Cummins had confidently predicted that Australia would make it to the semifinals, saying, "Definitely Australia, and you can choose whichever other 3 teams you want, I don't care,"
Zadran shared Cummins' quote on his X handle with playful emojis, adding to the celebration of Afghanistan's historic achievement.
What happened in the historic match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh?
The match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh saw numerous twists and turns. After electing to bat first, Afghanistan posted a total of 115-8, with contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan.
Rain interruptions revised Bangladesh's target to 114 runs in 19 overs. Despite Litton Das's unbeaten 54, Bangladesh could only manage 105 runs, thanks to excellent bowling from Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, who both took four wickets.
What's next for Afghanistan?
With this win, Afghanistan not only secured their spot in the semifinals but also ended Australia's campaign. Afghanistan will now face South Africa in the first semifinal on June 27 in Trinidad. Meanwhile, Australia will need to reassess and regroup after failing to make it to the knockout stages for the second consecutive T20 World Cup.