June 9 - Afghanistan must focus on building partnerships and finally producing a complete batting performance at this World Cup, according to Noor Ali Zadran. Noor played his first game of the tournament against New Zealand at Taunton – a quirk of fate seeing him replace his own nephew Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the XI – and batted well to make 31 at the top of the order.
He and fellow opener Hazratullah Zazai put on 66 for the first wicket but Hazratullah’s dismissal at the hands of Jimmy Neesham sparked a collapse to 70/4 and Afghanistan were eventually skittled for 172, before the Black Caps cruised to a seven-wicket victory with 17.5 overs to spare.
When batting first at this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan have been bowled out in 38.2 and 41.1 overs, while they failed to chase down 187 in the other game.
