Not India or Australia! Mohammad Kaif picks surprise team as top contenders to win the T20 World Cup

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Afghanistan are top contender to win the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Rashid Khan and Co. sealed their berth in the Super Eights with a seven-wicket win over Papua New Guinea on Friday (June 14). With three consecutive victories in the group stage, they are currently at the top of the Group C points table. 

Afghanistan have qualified with three remarkable wins, but big challenges await them in the Super 8 stage. They are placed alongside former champions India and Australia, with Bangladesh likely to join the pool as the fourth team. Highlighting the blazing form of the batters and bowlers, Kaif reckons Afghanistan have a high chance of lifting the trophy. 

"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," Kaif opinioned.  

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They exactly know how to bowl and bat on which pitch: Kaif

Another major reason why Kaif backed Afghanistan was the Asian team's experience of playing in the Windies' conditions. Notably, Afghanistan have played all their World Cup matches in the West Indies, unlike India or some other teams, who have also played their matches in the USA. All matches in the Super 8s will be played on Caribbean soil.

"They are playing all their matches here (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," the former India batter observed.

Afghanistan have always been known for their bowling, especially spin. But this time their fast-bowling unit has also risen to the occasion and the batters are also performing well. Notably, the Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 167 runs. Kaif feels that it will be difficult to beat Afghanistan if their batters also fire.   

"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. 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 concluded.