Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by eight runs: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 – updates

We will leave you with those images of the beaming Afghan players celebrating an historic night, but before we do that, let’s have a quick recap of how the action unfolded:

Before the match started, Afghanistan were in a golden position to qualify for the semifinals after India beat Australia earlier in the day but given the tricky nature of the Arnos Vale surface, Afghanistan’s batting unit misfired and they ended up accumulating a subpar total of 115.

With Bangladesh needing to knock off the total in 12.1 overs in order to qualify for themselves, they had no choice but to go for it and they started brightly. But their attacking intent, in turn, provided the opening that Afghanistan needed.

Amid numerous rain interruptions the game swayed between both sides as Litton Das held fort for Bangladesh but Afghanistan kept making inroads at key intervals.

The men in blue eventually held their nerve to pull off one of the greatest victories in the history of the T20 World Cup and realised their greatest cricketing triumph with a place in the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals.

They will now play South Africa in just over a day’s time in Trinidad and Tobago.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this fascinating encounter, and on behalf of Hafsa Adil, this is Rohan Sharma signing off for Al Jazeera.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 🇦🇫

Afghanistan are through to the #T20WorldCup 2024 semi-final 👏 pic.twitter.com/gUxYiinmDC

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) June 25, 2024

True to Rashid Khan’s words, the people of Afghanistan have begun celebrating their historic win by pouring out onto the streets in Kabul, Khost and Nangarhar.

It’s just past 10am in Afghanistan, so the locals will celebrate long into the day and perhaps until their team plays its semifinal on Wednesday night.

Winning captain Rashid was in a jubilant mood at the post-match presentation: “It’s something like a dream for us as a team.

“It is all about how we started the tournament. The belief came when we beat New Zealand.

“I have no words to describe my feelings.

“In our mind 130-135 was a good total. We were 15-20 runs short.

“In the end we spoke about mindset and how they were going to come at us.

“If we bowl into the stump we have a better chance of getting them out.

“We just had to be very clear in our planning and effort. Effort is always there in your hands.

“For the people back home, for their happiness, that was the kind of discussion we had. That made the job easier for us.

“In T20 we have a strong base. If your bowlers start well, it gives us [spinners] an opportunity to attack the middle order.

“It is going to be a massive celebration back home.”

All of us right now! 👊🤩

Alhamdulillah, Ya Rab! 🙏#AfghanAtalan | #T20WorldCup | #AFGvBAN | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/lquOntpnAJ

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 25, 2024

Losing Bangladesh skipper Shanto had this to say at the post-match presentation: “We bowled really well. As a bowling unit we did a lot of good things.

“As a batting unit we made poor decisions, especially in the middle overs,” he said.

“First three wickets we went hard. If we lose early wickets, then we play normally.

“The middle order didn’t execute plans, so that was the main issue today.

“The whole tournamnet we bowled really well, especially Hossain.

As a fielding group we did a lot of good things and took a lot of good catches.

“As a batting unit we need to improve a lot, especially at the top of the order.”

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup | Super Eight
Bangladesh 🆚 Afghanistan

Afghanistan won by 8 runs (DLS method)

Photo Credit: ICC/Getty#BCB #Cricket #BANvAFG #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2a28Zhybmt

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) June 25, 2024

It has taken Afghanistan just 14 years from making their debut at any ICC Men’s World Cup – 50 or 20 overs – to entering the semifinals for the first time.

The men from the then war-torn country made their ICC T20 World Cup debut right here in the West Indies in 2010.

Fourteen years and six world cups later, here they are.

Oh look, even Jonathan Trott has been propped up on the shoulders and has broken into a hearty laugh!

The Afghanistan coach has done a commendable job with this group of players, lifting them up after a close run at the 50-over World Cup six months ago, and guiding them to the semifinals.

The former England batter has played a key role in masterminding their journey in the recent past.

For taking the final two wickets to end with figures of 4 for 26, Naveen is adjudged Player of the Match: “We have worked so hard over the past few years. We were dreaming and working for this day.

“When this day comes and happens, it’s a surreal experience. I am at a loss for words,” he said.

“We always knew they were going hard in the powerplay to chase the total down in 12.1 overs.

“We knew we were in the game as long as we picked up wickets.

“These are the games where you never know what can happen. The margin of error is very small.

“We had confidence that as long as we don’t give up easy runs and pick up wickets, we can win it.”

𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 – 𝐀𝐅𝐆𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐒!!! 🙌#AfghanAtalan have successfully defended their total and have won the game by 8 runs (DLS) to make it to the Semi-Finals of the #T20WorldCup for the 1st time in their history. 👊🤩#AFGvBAN pic.twitter.com/isn1j9zub9

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 25, 2024

The Afghanistan players are not going to stop celebrating any time soon.

They have got Gurbaz, who was out injured, on their shoulders as they soak in the applause from the crowd and then applaud them in return.

There are huge smiles on the faces of the support staff.

The handful of Afghan fans who have braved the weather and start-stop nature of the match have broken out into the Afghan Attan dance in the stands.

They are dancing with joy and with abandon. The locals join in with their own moves.

It’s a party in the stands at Arnos Vale.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who has been Afghanistan’s hero with the bat throughout the tournament, weeps tears of joy while sitting on the dressing room balcony.

Incredible scenes on the ground as the Afghanistan players fall to the ground in celebration!

The backroom staff run onto the field and let out roars.

This is an historic night in Antigua and an historic morning in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan have pulled off one of the most improbable victories you will ever see!

This is almost a re-enactment of what happened when they beat Australia on June 22, except this time they vanquish their opponent from the tournament.

Naveen raps Mustafizur straight on the pads and the umpire raises the finger straight away.

They don’t even bother to see the review Bangladesh have called for, as they begin their celebrations rather prematurely.

He has two balls to survive this over.

Bangladesh will want Das to see out all the balls remaining, and try to get them over the line.

As it stands, 9 needed off 8.

The rain has arrived once more as the players are rushed off.

As it stands, Bangladesh are now behind on the DLS par score, meaning Afghanistan would go through to the semis.

This has to be one of the wackiest games of cricket you will ever see.

But hang on, looks like we might start again soon as the covers are whisked off again.

With the fall of the ninth wicket, Afghanistan have pulled back in front on the DLS par score, which is 108 for the loss nine wickets in 17.4 overs.

Oh, how the scene has changed.

Incredible stuff.

Naveen gets Taskin with a slower delivery which keeps low.

The batter ends up playing the ball onto his stumps, which sets off huge celebrations among the Afghanistan contingent.

Das plays a leading edge back to the bowler.

It was a half-chance though, as Naveen was off balance in his follow through.

If he had taken it, it would have been massive for Afghanistan.

Rashid throws the ball to one of his veteran bowlers.

It’s a wonder they didn’t go with Farooqi, who is leading the wicket-takers’ list at the moment.

He starts well enough, with two off his first two balls.