MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 SPORTS Afghanistan look to repeat Ireland shock factor KARACHI: Afghanistan hope to follow the World Cup giant-killing blueprint drawn up by fellow out- siders Ireland when they make their debut at the game’s showpiece tournament. Ireland defeated mighty Pakistan to reach the Super Eights stage at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean before defeating England in a high-scor- ing match in the 2011 tournament in India. “My wish would be to emulate what Ireland have done in the last couple of World Cups. They have caused shocks by playing positive, entertaining cricket,” said Andy Moles, who replaced former Pakistan paceman Kabir Khan as Afghanistan coach in September last year. It was Kabir who lifted the nascent cricket nation from division five in 2008 to narrowly missing out on a berth in the 2011 World Cup. Another former Pakistani international, Rashid Latif, then helped Afghanistan reach the the 2010 World Twenty20 and take the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in China. Latif believes Afghanistan should not worry about results in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where they will face both co-hosts as well as Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Scotland in the group stages. “I have faith in them. The way they are investing money, the Afghanistan team will beat top teams in the next five years,” said Latif. But he also cautioned: “I don’t want them to go down like Kenya.” The African nation reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup but their fall from grace led them to losing their one-day international credentials. “For me they should gain more and more experi- ence and with that learn to play better after the World Cup. “I want them to play in a manner that if the kids are watching on television back home they will feel proud of them.” With two channels pledging live coverage, Afghanistan will begin their maiden World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Canberra on February 18. Afghanistan will take heart from their shock win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year. It was their first win in 10 one-day internationals against a Test-playing nation. But like most of the Asian and Associates teams, batting on bouncy Australian pitches and coping with swing in New Zealand will be the main chal- lenge. SRI LANKA: In this file photo taken Monday, March 3, 2014, Afghanistan’s Afghanistan’s batsmen know one way of batting- Nawroz Mangal plays a shot during the Asia Cup one-day international cricket to attack. “The biggest challenge is going to be how tournament. — AP the batsmen handle the quicker bowlers. Playing in Australia is going to be quite brutal for some of these guys who aren’t used to those conditions,” Warner, Maxwell tons said Moles. “I will work hard to get them as much confi- expose India’s bowling dence as possible, to play without fear of failure and, if they see an opportunity at any stage in a ADELAIDE: David Warner and Glenn had a scare when Mohammad Shami (3- game, to take it. Maxwell struck blistering centuries as 83) left the field with a split webbing but “I’d like them to enjoy the challenge that lies Australia flexed their batting muscles to returned soon after to resume bowling. ahead of them.” With experienced players like expose defending champion India’s Their batting on a good track could Nowroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Zadran and bowling limitations in a World Cup not offer much relief, however, with only Hamid Hasan, Afghanistan will hope they can show ADELAIDE: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin (right) plays a shot from the Australian bowling warmup match in Adelaide yesterday. Shikhar Dhawan (59), Ajinkya Rahane their talent in the big league. — AFP during the one-day international warm-up cricket match. — AFP Opting to bat first, Australia piled up (66) and Ambati Rayudu (53) managing 371 in 48.2 overs and bowled out India to impress. for 265 in a dominant display to explain Batting mainstay Virat Kohli dragged a Ireland target more shocks, Test status why they are considered favourites for Mitchell Starc delivery onto his stumps the World Cup beginning on Saturday. and the Australian nonchalantly took a LONDON: It is a measure of Ireland’s success their quest for Test status, with the West ruled out through injury. They dominated India in all three one-handed blinder on the edge of the at the last two World Cups that it will no Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, “We’ve produced some wonderful per- departments even though the tourna- boundary to dismiss India captain longer count as a stunning shock if they Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in their formances over the years in World Cups, and ment co-hosts did not last a full 50 overs Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a golden defeat a Test nation in Australia and New sights. Experienced campaigners William there’s no reason why we can’t claim further in what was possibly the only blemish in duck. Zealand. Porterfield and brothers Kevin and Niall successes in Australia and New Zealand,” said their 106-run win. Left-handed Warner “It was a very good performance,” said Whether it was knocking Pakistan out of O’Brien are at the heart of an experienced captain Porterfield, one of several players in (104) played his natural game, racing to Australia stand-in skipper George Bailey the 2007 edition in the Caribbean or seeing squad coached by former West Indies bats- the squad who earns his living in the English his century in 80 balls. Maxwell (122) did before pointing out areas his team could Kevin O’Brien produce the fastest-ever World man Phil Simmons. county championship. even better, needing 53 balls to reach still improve. Cup century in a memorable victory over The trio, along with Ed Joyce and John “While we may have lost the surprise factor the 100-mark, his second 50 coming in “Early wickets tonight would have England in Bangalore four years ago, the Mooney, will be playing at their third World over the years, we’ve certainly gained a lot of just 19 balls. There was momentary dis- been nice, just to blow the game out of game’s elite have learnt to respect the men in Cup while the 15-man squad also includes respect for our brand of cricket which has comfort for Maxwell, whose attempted the water. As great as our batting was, green. “The Irish have got a good structure several tournament debutants in Andrew been pretty pleasing.” hook off Umesh Yadav resulted in an we were probably one wicket down too and good facilities,” former England all- Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Andrew McBrine, Ireland have also recruited retired inside edge that crashed onto his helmet many and you’d like to see Mitchell Starc rounder Paul Collingwood, now a member of Stuart Thompson, and Craig Young, although Australian pace ace Brett Lee to work as a and he also needed medical attention on catch with both hands,” he quipped. Scotland’s backroom staff, told the ICC web- Middlesex paceman Tim Murtagh has been bowling consultant at the World Cup. — AFP his lower back after reaching 50. Maxwell Dhoni said he was still looking for the site. “They’re always a well-drilled unit and a retired to allow his team mates to get final 11 players for next Sunday’s tourna- lot of their players have got county experi- some batting practice but not before ment opener against Pakistan. “It’s a very ence so you know they’re going to cause plundering 27 runs from a Yadav over long tournament and what we have seen teams problems. and hitting three sixes in a row. is the team that does well is the one that “The win against England in 2011 was India, having lost paceman Ishant comes from the bottom and slowly picks huge. It will be their goal to have an Irish Test Sharma to a knee injury earlier in the day, up momentum,” he added. — Reuters team to keep hold of the players that have come over to England to do that,” he added. And therein lies the problem for Ireland. India paceman Ishant Their plight is summed-up by the fact the best Irish batsman of his generation, Eoin Morgan, won’t be playing for his native country at the ruled out of World Cup World Cup but will, in fact, be captaining England instead. SYDNEY: India fast bowler Ishant Sharma ing England. He has played 12 ODIs and So long as Ireland don’t have Test status, was ruled out of the World Cup with a taken 10 wickets at an average of 40.50 there is always the chance the very best Irish knee injury yesterday and will be with his right-arm medium pace since his players will follow in Morgan’s footsteps. replaced by Mohit Sharma in the defend- debut against Zimbabwe in 2013. Ireland have done everything that could ing champions’ inexperienced pace India’s lack of a strong pace attack to reasonably be asked of them in making a case attack. Ishant missed the final test in the make the most of the Australasian wick- to become a Test nation and former Australia series against Australia in early January ets is expected to be a major hindrance fast bowler turned Yorkshire coach Jason because of the knee injury he had sus- to their quest to retain the title they won Gillespie was in no doubt, saying the ICC tained during the Boxing Day test and in spin-friendly conditions on home soil “should be making it a priority”.