England’s confidence remains unwavering despite their unexpected 69-run loss to Afghanistan in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup, according to spinner Adil Rashid. The defending champions believe they have ample time to rekindle their campaign.
In this match, Afghanistan managed to post a competitive total of 284, courtesy of impressive fifties from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil. Subsequently, they bowled out England for just 215 runs, securing their second victory at this prestigious event. This marked England’s second loss in the tournament, following their defeat to New Zealand in the opening game.
Adil Rashid, speaking to reporters, conveyed the team’s perspective on the situation, saying,
“It’s part and parcel of the game. We’re not too concerned; it’s just a game that we’ve lost. We know we’ve got tough competition coming up, but I’m confident we can play really well as a unit moving forward.”
He emphasized the resilience and determination within the squad, stating,
“You are going to have games where players are out of form, but I do believe we’ve got the squad, we’ve got the team, and we’ve got the mentality to still be hungry.”
England currently occupies the fifth position on the points table, having won just one of their three matches. However, Rashid remains optimistic about their prospects. He said,
“We know we’ve still got six games; hopefully, we can win and get some good momentum going forward. I’m quite confident in the squad. I’m sure we’ll bounce back strong.”
Their upcoming match against South Africa in Mumbai is a crucial opportunity for England to regain their footing and improve their standing on the points table. Only the top four teams from the group stage will advance to the semi-finals, and England is determined to be among them.
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