More than anything else, he has big hopes from Mohammad Shahzad, the charismatic opening batsman and wicket-keeper, whose mindset and skills have impressed Desai hugely.

The recent Asia Cup 2018 saw flashes of brilliance in Afghanistan’s batting effort, as the team managed to get to the 250 region each time. They also picked up 38 wickets in five games, at an average of 7.6 wickets per game.

While Afghanistan boast of outstanding spin bowlers like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammed Nabi in their ranks, their pacers haven’t quite returned similar results – Hamid Hasan was an early star, but outside of Shapoor and Dawlat Zadran, there haven’t been too many to break through.

Desai, however, doesn’t feel there is a paucity of quality pacers in the country. He revealed that during his coaching days with Afghanistan, they had recruited promising seam-bowling talents from the domestic circuit, who, he feels, will feature at the international level at some point in the future. In their maiden Test, against India earlier this year, Afghanistan’s pace attack was led by 19-year-old Wafadar and 26-year-old Yamin Ahmadzai, both of them impressing in patches.

“The fast bowlers are there, they are coming up. I remember Simmons, Charl Langeveldt (the bowling coach) and I would come together to watch videos of 20-30 fast-bowling prospects of Afghanistan. We had identified around five-six seamers who would do well long-term. In the future series and future tournaments, you would see them coming through,” said Desai.

“I don’t think the seam department is a worry – of course, the experience is something you cannot bring in straightaway. Players who will bowl with veterans like of Dawlat Zadran or Shapoor Zadran will improve more with their guidance, but we must give them the time to grow.”