Rajput coached Afghanistan from 2016 to 2017.
| Photo Credit: VIVEK BENDRE
Afghanistan’s victory over England on Wednesday has given the side a real shot at qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions Trophy. One person who is not surprised by the team’s progress is its former coach, Lalchand Rajput. The ex-India cricketer, currently the UAE’s head coach, was pleased by his former team’s progress.
“I recently said to someone ‘don’t be surprised if they make it to the semifinals.’ It is heartening to see their performance. I have seen them go from nothing, and reaching this level is something. Their cricket has grown well,” said Rajput, who coached the side from 2016 to 2017, during which time the outfit also got its Test status.
“Seeing the guys like Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib, guys I have worked with, do well is very nice,” he said.
Rajput explained that during his time, he started two and three-day matches between provincial teams in Afghanistan, which has helped the team grow. “They started with four teams and now have six. Playing red-ball cricket, teaches the batters to play long innings, which then helps with one-day cricket. Similarly, the bowlers also learn to bowl 15-20 overs and it becomes easier to bowl 10 overs in a match,” said the 63-year-old.
A win for Afghanistan against Australia will take the side into the last four and it could face India here in the first semifinal depending on both teams’ relative positions in their respective groups. If that happens, it would be a special moment for Shahidi’s men to play in a country which was once their ‘home’ venue.
Afghanistan used the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium as its home ground in the early days of international cricket and recently beat South Africa 2-1 in an ODI series last year. Some former Afghan cricketers at that time had daytime jobs in the Emirates while pursuing cricket.
Mazhar Khan, General Manager at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium added, “In 2010, Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, who built the stadium, announced that Sharjah will be their home venue when they were here for the Intercontinental Cup. They are passionate boys and love playing here in Sharjah because they have got a lot of support from their fans in this part of the world.”
“At that time, I think they had some very fast bowlers, but were a bit erratic in the early days. But once Rashid Khan came in, he made a huge difference alongside players like Mohammad Nabi,” said Mazhar.
Published – February 27, 2025 11:15 pm IST