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'In The Top Four...,' Rashid Khan Confident Of Afghanistan Qualifying For Semis In T20 World Cup 2024

Rashid optimistic about his team's chances in the World Cup. (X)Rashid optimistic about his team's chances in the World Cup. (X)

In the ongoing 20-team T20 World Cup, a few experts have tipped Afghanistan to reach the semi-finals. Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan is delighted that his team, once considered underdogs, are now being seen as favourites for the tournament.

Afghanistan is placed in Group C, often referred to as the Group of Death, which also includes West Indies, New Zealand, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea. Only two teams from each group will progress to the Super Eight stage of the event. 

With strong teams like the West Indies and New Zealand in their group, Afghanistan's path to the next stage won't be easy. However, Rashid remains optimistic, viewing the prediction of a semi-final berth as a positive sign for his team.

"They have mentioned Afghanistan is going to be there for semis. We take that as a very positive sign. Before, it used to be hard for us to qualify. Now, to be (in the) nomination, to be there in the top four, it's big for us. But for us, we don't look to those things a lot. It's all about how we're going to be there in the ground, delivering. We were very near in the last World Cup as well (that we wanted) to be in the semis," Rashid Khan said ahead of the Uganda game. 

Afghanistan, who made their T20 World Cup debut in 2010, have consistently appeared in the tournament. Following group-stage exits in their first three editions, Afghanistan have progressed to the next round in each of the last three tournaments. 

If the pitches favour spin, they possess the necessary arsenal to reach the top four. Their long journey to the semi-finals begins on Tuesday, 4 June, as they face debutants Uganda at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.