Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Mirwais Ashraf, during an online meeting today, congratulated the Under-19 national team, along with their coaches and supporting staff, on the team’s recent successes and praised their efforts and performances for qualifying to the world cup semifinals.
He said I feel proud that the team has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a few years. He added that he was pleased to see the results of the players’ hard work, especially following the preparation camps held inside the country and the series played against Bangladesh and India. He also praised the efforts of the coaching staff and the management team, saying that every time they have trusted domestic coaches, they have achieved positive results.
The Chairman advised the young players not to dwell on defeats and to always move forward with a positive mindset. He assured them of continued support and said that the board will address all their needs.
Raees Ahmadzai, the team head coach also praised the players’ performances, saying that although the team fought until the final over in the Asia Cup matches, they still faced defeat. He expressed his happiness that the players were mentally and physically prepared again in a short time, enabling them to believe in themselves and achieve success in such important matches. He thanked the administration for its constant support and praised the efforts of all supporting staff, including coaches, the manager, trainer, doctor, and video analyst, noting that their role was crucial in the team’s success.
In the final part of the meeting, team captain Mahboob Taskeen, speaking on behalf of the players, expressed gratitude to the administration and coaches for preparing the team in the best possible way for the World Cup. He added that their journey is not over yet and that they will give their full effort to win the semi-final and, upon reaching the final, bring the honor of World Cup championship to Afghanistan.
