As unpredictable as it may be, sport usually rewards groups for consistency, and whereas it isn’t uncommon to see a lower-ranked aspect spring a shock, it’s uncommon to see them punching above their weight at a serious championship.
With solely 4 spots out there within the playoffs after the 10-team round-robin stage at the Cricket World Cup, any squads with title ambitions should carry out effectively all through the match.
And with spectacular shock victories over England and Pakistan, Afghanistan have managed to line themselves up with an opportunity of progressing to the subsequent spherical.
They have some large video games nonetheless to play, however additionally they have matches in opposition to a struggling Sri Lankan workforce and the Netherlands, who’re the lowest-ranked aspect at the global showpiece, and if they’ll win each these fixtures, they’ll give themselves an actual likelihood.
It will likely be a outstanding breakthrough for the Afghans, who obtained full ODI standing 20 years in the past and have since climbed to No 9 within the world rankings.
Though they have competed at two earlier editions of the 50-over World Cup and 6 editions of the T20 World Cup, they have by no means reached the playoffs, and if they’ll take the step up it’ll present how a lot progress they have actually made.
Rising minnows
And they’re not the one workforce to have sprung a shock in India, with the Netherlands having delivered a shock of their very own in opposition to the Proteas.
Not solely have these outcomes given lower-ranked sides purpose to rejoice, however they have additionally blown the competitors broad open within the race for the semi-finals.
It is the primary World Cup since 1992 at which all groups have received at least one recreation, and this unpredictability is clear within the weird state of the desk.
Midway via the competitors, five-time champions Australia (fourth place) are equal on factors with unfancied Afghanistan (sixth), whereas defending champions England are mendacity backside of the standings.
In any World Cup match, carefully contested matches are at all times extra thrilling, so it’s good to see newer groups sticking their fingers up and giving conventional powerhouses a shake.
Having extra sides who’re capable of compete at the best degree can solely be good for the sport of cricket.
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