New gameplan for T20 Qualifiers: Mangal

KABUL Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for March 13-24 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Afghanistan, the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, Kenya, , Scotland, the USA, Bermuda, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Denmark, Italy, Namibia, Hong Kong, Oman and Nepal will be taking part in the event.

The winners will join Australia and the West Indies in Group B of the ICC World Twenty20 Cup to be hosted by Sri Lanka in September. The losing finalist will complete Group A that includes defending champions England and 2007 winners India.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News before the national squad’s departure for Dubai, Afghan captain Nawroz Mangal said they would practice for 10 days before the qualifying matches began in the UAE.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had hired ex-Pakistani Test player Kabir Khan as a coach, whose experience would considerably benefit the national team, the skipper said. He also praised the ACB for appointing an Indian batting coach.

Commenting on last month’s one day international with Pakistan in the UAE, Mangal said the Afghans had proved their class and grit to the world.  “We will not take lightly any team in the qualifying round.

“We will consider every match as an important one,” the captain said, calling Ireland, Canada, Scotland, Holland and the UAE formidable rivals.

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