Dale Steyn’s Vision for Afghanistan’s Future
Dale Steyn, the legendary South African fast bowler, has expressed his belief that Afghanistan could win an ICC tournament within the next decade. His confidence in the Afghan team is rooted in their potential, but he also highlighted a critical area for improvement: patience. Steyn noted that in the past, players would often participate in county cricket or first-class matches to hone their skills and develop a sense of patience. "Back in the day, a lot of players would go play county cricket, or they would go play first-class cricket to improve their skills and improve their patience really," Steyn said. "I think we live in a time now where people are not patient enough. We can hardly watch two seconds on an Instagram story and it just feels like the Afghanistan players are similar when they’re playing their cricket."
The Need for Patience in Cricket
Steyn elaborated on the importance of patience in cricket, particularly in formats like One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches. "They want things to happen so quickly. This ball must be a wicket, there’s no patience to building up and taking a wicket. And sometimes, the batters are the same, they’re batting in the first over. There’s so much movement happening in the crease, so they’re trying to hit a six and they’re trying to get the game going," he observed. While T20 cricket is beneficial for their financial well-being and learning, Steyn suggested that spending time in longer formats, such as four-day games, could be crucial. "One-day cricket is essentially a shortened version of a Test match. It’s got its moments where T20 is applied. But patience is one of the biggest things that Afghanistan players need to learn, and once they get that down, honestly, in the next decade, they could win ICC tournaments, for sure."
Afghanistan’s Performance in the Champions Trophy 2025
Despite their thrilling victory over England in Lahore, Afghanistan’s journey in the Champions Trophy 2025 was cut short. They lost their opening match to South Africa and found themselves in a precarious position against Australia before rain intervened. Ibrahim Zadran’s match-winning 177 against England was a standout performance, but the team’s inability to convert starts into big scores was evident. Sediqullah Atal, who scored 85 against Australia, couldn’t capitalize on his good start, and the top three batsmen failed to set up a game collectively. "Their batting needs to improve as well. We say that they are not a big chasing team. Their [Nos.] 3, 4, 5, even though Atal played well today, Rahmat Shah needs to be more consistent," said Wasim Jaffer, a former Indian cricketer and commentator.
The Fragility in Afghanistan’s Batting Line-up
Jaffer identified the fragility in Afghanistan’s batting line-up as a significant issue. "He got a 90 in the first game, [Hashmatullah] Shahidi got stuck today, Gurbaz is their main player, he had a very off tournament. That’s where I think they lacked this time," he noted. The inconsistency of key players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who managed only 16 runs in three games, highlighted the need for a more robust and reliable batting order. This fragility was particularly evident in their chase against Australia, where the team struggled to build partnerships and maintain momentum.
Afghanistan’s Rapid Rise in International Cricket
Despite the setbacks, Afghanistan’s rapid rise in international cricket is undeniable. Jaffer praised their achievements, including reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup and consistently beating strong teams. "Afghanistan are on the rise, and you’ve got to applaud them because they’ve played semi-finals [at the 2024 T20 World Cup], they’ve beaten good teams and, when they beat anybody it’s not an upset anymore. So, you can expect Afghanistan to put on a show," he said. The team’s performances have earned them respect and recognition, and their potential is clear to see.
Looking Forward: The Path to Success
To achieve their full potential and win ICC tournaments, Afghanistan needs to address their lack of patience and batting inconsistency. Steyn’s suggestion to spend more time in longer formats of the game could be a game-changer. "Maybe, spending some time in four-day games might help," he advised. Jaffer echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of starting tournaments strongly and building a more resilient batting line-up. "In such a short tournament, it’s important to start really well because you don’t get too many chances. One loss and you could be out of the tournament, which happened here," he said. With the right approach and a focus on these areas, Afghanistan could indeed become a formidable force in international cricket within the next decade.
