Afghanistan came into Asia Cup with an enhanced reputation of being a team capable of challenging any other side in the shortest format of the game. To get there, they have leaned on the world’s leading T20 spin bowler in Rashid Khan, a mystery spinner in Mujeeb Ur Rahman and a seasoned all-rounder in Mohammad Nabi. With bowlers coming to the team’s rescue, the batsmen have had little incentive to keep wickets in hand.

But, the spin trio alone cannot do the job in ODIs. Consequently, prior to the Asia Cup, Afghanistan’s batting, especially in the 50-over game, had come under the scanner after the team failed to chase relatively modest totals. They were recently restricted to 182-9 by Ireland in Belfast and, prior to that, had failed to chase 196 against Zimbabwe and 226 (DLS method) against Hong Kong during the ICC World Cup Qualifier.

Khan finished as the top wicket-taker at the end of the Super Four stage with 10 wickets from five games. Rahman was fifth with seven scalps. Shahzad (268 runs at 53.60) and Shahidi (263 at 65.75) finished as the third and fourth-highest run scorers respectively.

Add to these the outrageous T20 numbers of Hazratullah Zazai – 174 runs from three innings at 58 and a strike rate of 156.75 with two half-centuries – who burst onto the scene in the T20I series against Ireland, and you see that there’s more to come to this list of batsmen.

If nothing else, this Asia Cup has shown that Afghanistan have grown into an all-round unit. More will be expected of them the next time they play an ODI, and they may no longer always turn out as the underdogs. They have added another aspect to cricket in Asia, which has revolved around India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for long.

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