{"id":137459,"date":"2024-06-23T12:52:21","date_gmt":"2024-06-23T12:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=137459"},"modified":"2024-06-23T12:52:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-23T12:52:56","slug":"afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations-by-michael-roberts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations-by-michael-roberts\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan \u2018talibans\u2019 Australian T20 Cricket Aspirations-by Michael Roberts"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Afghanistan \u2018talibans\u2019 Australian T20 Cricket Aspirations-by <span style=\"color: #800000;\">Michael Roberts<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-88737 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Michael-Roberts-eLanka.jpg\" alt=\"Michael Roberts\" width=\"160\" height=\"184\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #800000;\">Source:<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/thuppahis.com\/2024\/06\/23\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Thuppahis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">In what must have been a nerve-tingling match-up, the Afghanistan cricket team undermined and shattered Australia\u2019s cricket team at\u00a0 the T20 match in Kingstown on 22nd June. This was achieved via a team ffort involving several star interventions (as it should be in good cricket). I did not watch the match but the figures reveal that there were several stars \u2014 from the big opening stand between Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran when Afghanistan batted first to Naveen Ul-Haq\u2019s 2 for 20 runs in four overs to Mohammad Nabi\u2019s allround feat of 10 runs in\u00a0 ten balls at the tail-end of their innings and then one wkt for one run \u2014 and that was opening bat David Warner \u2014 in the only over he bowled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/thuppahis.com\/2024\/06\/23\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thuppahis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/383571.6.webp?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"300\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/thuppahis.com\/2024\/06\/23\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thuppahis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/383574.6.webp?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"300\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>NOTE THESE MOMENTS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>14.4\u00a0<\/strong><b>BIG BIG WICKET!<\/b>\u00a0Noor Ahmad may not have bowled much, but he may have taken the most important catch of his life! Maxwell slices at this length ball outside off, and\u00a0<strong>Noor<\/strong>\u00a0a<strong>t backward point dives diagonally forward to take a dipping catch!<\/strong><strong>\u00a0106\/6<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>SOME INTERNET POINTS:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-list-disc ds-pt-2 ds-px-4 ds-mb-4\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">1st Wicket: 100 runs in 80 balls (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 48, Ibrahim Zadran 45, Ex 7)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Rahmanullah Gurbaz: 50 off 44 balls (4 x 4, 3 x 6)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Ibrahim Zadran: 50 off 46 balls (6 x 4)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Australia: 50 runs in 7.6 overs (48 balls), Extras 8<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Over 8.1: Review by Afghanistan (Bowling), Decision Challenged \u2013 Wicket, Umpire \u2013 Ahsan Raza, Batter \u2013 MP Stoinis (Struck down)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Drinks: Australia \u2013 70\/3 in 10.0 overs (GJ Maxwell 31, MP Stoinis 11)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Over 12.2: Review by Australia (Batting), Decision Challenged \u2013 Wicket, Umpire \u2013 Ahsan Raza, Batter \u2013 TH David (Struck down \u2013 Umpires Call)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">GJ Maxwell: 50 off 35 balls (5 x 4, 3 x 6)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Australia: 100 runs in 13.3 overs (81 balls), Extras 14<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-text-tight-s ds-font-regular ds-text-typo ds-py-1\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Over 16.1: Review by Afghanistan (Bowling), Decision Challenged \u2013 Wicket, Umpire \u2013 Ahsan Raza, Batter \u2013 PJ Cummins (Struck down)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>DEIVARAYAN\u00a0 MUTHU\u00a0 in\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/series\/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2024-1411166\/afghanistan-vs-australia-48th-match-super-eights-group-1-1415748\/match-report\">ESPNcricinfo:<\/a>\u00a0 \u2026.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"xl:ds-pt-[10px] xl:ds-ml-[120px] xl:ds-w-[600px]\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">With a semi-final spot on the line, Australia\u2019s top order was wiped out by Afghanistan\u2019s seamers.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/glenn-maxwell-325026\">Glenn Maxwell<\/a>\u00a0then pulled off one trick shot after another to counter Afghanistan and leave them feeling a sense of\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/series\/icc-cricket-world-cup-2023-24-1367856\/afghanistan-vs-australia-39th-match-1384430\/match-report\">d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu<\/a>. One shovelled four off Azmatullah Omarzai had Maxwell grinning from ear to ear. After he brought up a 35-ball half-century, Maxwell put his thumbs-up to the Australia dressing room and looked set to secure their place in the final four and KO Afghanistan once again.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/gulbadin-naib-352048\">Gulbadin Naib<\/a>, though, combined with\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/noor-ahmad-819401\">Noor Ahmad<\/a>\u00a0to stop Maxwell on 59 off 41 balls and keep Afghanistan alive in this T20 World Cup. After Naib hid one away from Maxwell\u2019s swinging arc, Noor pulled off a spectacular, low catch at backward point. Maxwell\u2019s exit left Australia at 106 for 6 in the 15th over, still needing 43 off 32 balls on the St Vincent pitch that offered sharp turn and variable bounce.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Naib used those conditions to his advantage to come away with career-best T20I figures of 4 for 20 to help bowl Australia out for 127. Brought in as their eighth bowler, Naib took out Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Pat Cummins to headline Afghanistan\u2019s famous victory, their first over Australia across formats.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Earlier, Cummins had\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/story\/pat-cummins-claims-back-to-back-hat-tricks-remembered-this-one-1440389\">bagged a hat-trick<\/a>\u00a0in consecutive World Cup games, and almost got four in four, but this was indeed Naib and Afghanistan\u2019s day.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/thuppahis.com\/2024\/06\/23\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img1.hscicdn.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,t_ds_w_1200,q_50\/lsci\/db\/PICTURES\/CMS\/383500\/383576.4.jpg?w=500&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<aside class=\"ds-mt-4 ds-mb-8\">\n<div class=\"ds-cursor-pointer ds-rounded-xl ds-cursor-default ds-w-full\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col ds-space-y-4 ds-rounded-xl\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col ds-space-y-3\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col\">\n<div class=\"ds-leading-[0] ds-text-typo-mid3\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><em><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s\"><span class=\"ds-text-typo\">Rahmanullah Gurbaz celebrates that winning feeling with Azmatullah Omarzai<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s ds-mx-2\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s\">AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">THE OPENING ACT<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/rahmanullah-gurbaz-974087\">Rahmanullah Gurbaz<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/ibrahim-zadran-974083\">Ibrahim Zadran<\/a>\u00a0struck up their third century stand in this tournament \u2013 they became the first pair to do so\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/stats.espncricinfo.com\/ci\/engine\/stats\/index.html?class=3;filter=advanced;orderby=fow_runs;qualmin1=3;qualval1=fow_hundreds;template=results;type=fow;view=series\">in any T20I series<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 to set Afghanistan up for a competitive total.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Both openers made half-centuries, leaving Australia waiting until the 16th over for a breakthrough. Never have Australia had to wait that long for a wicket in T20Is.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Gurbaz and Ibrahim had played out 21 dots in the first four overs in which they managed only 17. But in the next two overs they more than doubled the score, ending the powerplay on 40 for 0.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Gurbaz then jumped out of his crease and pumped Adam Zampa for a straight six while Ibrahim manufactured swinging room and crunched Ashton Agar over cover-point for four. Australia had picked the left-arm fingerspinner, ahead of Mitchell Starc, to match him up with a right-hander heavy Afghanistan line-up on a spin-friendly surface, but he went wicketless (4-1-17-0).<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Gurbaz and Ibrahim largely played percentage shots to counter the conditions and Australia\u2019s attack. Ibrahim could\u2019ve been dismissed on 11 had Zampa not dropped a difficult chance in the outfield; he ended up parrying it away to the boundary. Ibrahim got another life on 32 when Stoinis shelled a return catch. Australia continued to be uncharacteristically sloppy in the field, and Afghanistan capitalised on the many missed chances.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">THE COMEBACK<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Cummins led Australia\u2019s comeback at the death by claiming his second hat-trick in three days. On Saturday in St Vincent, he dismissed Rashid Khan, Karim Janat and Naib across the 18th and 20th overs. When he performed the feat against Bangladesh, Cummins said that he forgot he was on a hat-trick, but on Saturday against Afghanistan, he was aware of it, putting his hands up in celebration even before Maxwell had caught the ball. Cummins could\u2019ve well had four in four had David Warner not dropped Nangeyalia Kharote off the next ball. From 118 for 0 in the 16th over, Afghanistan finished with 148 for 6, and it was anyone\u2019s game at the halfway mark.<\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/thuppahis.com\/2024\/06\/23\/afghanistan-talibans-australian-t20-cricket-aspirations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-49618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img1.hscicdn.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,t_ds_w_1200,q_50\/lsci\/db\/PICTURES\/CMS\/383500\/383579.jpg?w=500&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"elanka\" width=\"400\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"xl:ds-pt-[10px] xl:ds-ml-[120px] xl:ds-w-[600px]\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<aside class=\"ds-mt-4 ds-mb-8\">\n<div class=\"ds-cursor-pointer ds-rounded-xl ds-cursor-default ds-w-full\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col ds-space-y-4 ds-rounded-xl\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col ds-space-y-3\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-flex-col\">\n<div class=\"ds-leading-[0] ds-text-typo-mid3\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><em><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s\"><span class=\"ds-text-typo\">Pat Cummins dismissed Gulbadin Naib to complete his second T20I hat-trick<\/span><\/span><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s ds-mx-2\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"ds-text-compact-s\">AFP\/Getty Images<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">NAVEEN\u2019S DOUBLE-STRIKE<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Afghanistan have become used to Fazalhaq Farooqi striking repeatedly in the powerplay, but here it was\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espncricinfo.com\/cricketers\/naveen-ul-haq-793447\">Naveen-ul-Haq<\/a>\u00a0who wrecked Australia\u2019s top order. After taking the first two balls away from Travis Head, Naveen threatened to bring one back into the batter with the angle from around the wicket, but the ball swung and seamed away wickedly to make Head look silly and crash into the middle stump. In his next over, Naveen had Mitchell Marsh slicing a catch to mid-off with a 108kph slower ball that would\u2019ve done Dwayne Bravo, the Afghanistan bowling consultant and Naveen\u2019s team-mate at Texas Super Kings, proud.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">HELLO AGAIN, MAXWELL<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Australia were 16 for 2 in three overs. Enter Maxwell. He set to work with two fours off Omarzai in a space of three balls and then dumped rookie left-arm spinner Kharote out of the attack. He first reverse-swept Kharote past slip for four and slog-swept him powerfully over midwicket in a 13-run over. Kharote was done with the ball after just one over.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Maxwell also took some calculated risks against Rashid and kept Australia in touch with the asking rate. When he reached his half-century with a six off Naib, the ghosts of Mumbai 2023 might have resurfaced for Afghanistan.<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">NAIB FLEXES HIS MUSCLES<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Naib, though, helped them exorcise the ghosts.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ci-story-content-ad\">\n<div class=\"ds-flex ds-justify-center ds-items-center ds-my-4\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Australia were 94 for 5 in 13 overs, with Maxwell and finisher Wade in the middle. Naib had already removed Stoinis and David in his first two overs. He wasn\u2019t even part of Afghanistan\u2019s Plan A. With the spinners erring full, especially against Maxwell, Rashid turned to Naib, who responded with two more wickets.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Naib doesn\u2019t have high pace, but he kept hitting the surface and had the ball react differently off it. After getting rid of Maxwell in his third over, he flexed his muscles and let out an almighty roar that might have been heard in Kabul. The Afghanistan fans in St Vincent roared with their hero and waved the flags.<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">In his final over, Naib fooled Cummins with a slower cutter before Naveen and Omarzai sealed the deal for Afghanistan.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>SOME COMMENTS from SRI LANKAN AFICIANADO:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Somachandra Skandakumar in Uva:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Thrilled with the outcome ! They are a great bunch of dedicated cricketers and deserved the success! Superbly led by example and also by Jonathan Trott \u2018s \u00a0calming influence that must have inspired them too !<\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">They play \u00a0with Pride for their \u00a0war ravaged Nation !<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"an1\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fonts.gstatic.com\/s\/e\/notoemoji\/15.0\/1f64f\/72.png?w=500&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-emoji=\"\" aria-label=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"an1\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fonts.gstatic.com\/s\/e\/notoemoji\/15.0\/1f44d\/72.png?w=500&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" data-emoji=\"\" aria-label=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Daya Wickramatunga in Colombo:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Never expected Afghanistan to beat Australia.<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/elanka-newsletter-sign-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox!<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Afghanistan \u2018talibans\u2019 Australian T20 Cricket Aspirations-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis In what must have been a nerve-tingling match-up, the Afghanistan cricket team undermined and shattered Australia\u2019s cricket team at\u00a0 the T20 match in Kingstown on 22nd June. This was achieved via a team ffort involving several star interventions (as it should be in good cricket). I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":137465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,42710],"tags":[66062,66063,66061,39163],"class_list":{"0":"post-137459","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"category-michael-roberts","9":"tag-fazalhaq-farooqi","10":"tag-gulbadin-naib","11":"tag-naveen-ul-haq","12":"tag-rahmanullah-gurbaz","13":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Afghanistan \u2018talibans\u2019 Australian T20 Cricket Aspirations-by Michael Roberts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In what must have been a nerve-tingling match-up, the Afghanistan cricket team undermined and shattered Australia\u2019s\" 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