- 08/06/2024
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and New Zealand's Kane Williamson react to the Afghan's huge win over New Zealand at ICC T20 Cricket World Cup. The Kiwis were bowled out for just 75 in reply to Afghanistan's 159 for 6
Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
Providence Stadium, Georgetown, Guyana
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Captain Kane Williamson.
00:05 I came in the front row.
00:10 Hi Kane, how do you describe what happened there tonight, especially a bit of uncharacteristic in the field for New Zealand for a start?
00:19 Yeah, I think for a start Afghanistan were outstanding.
00:24 To exude a performance like that on a tricky surface, I know they were 55-60 at 10 overs but 10 wickets in hand meant they had every opportunity to get a very good score.
00:36 Our fielding didn't help our cause without a doubt, that would be the most frustrating part for me.
00:44 It is something we pride ourselves on so that was very disappointing but that performance from us married up to an outstanding performance from Afghanistan meant it wasn't good enough.
00:56 They showed their skill today and we were outplayed.
01:00 New Zealand has been here since May 23rd, you've only played your first match now, maybe over Cochlear preparation on the Cochlear match time.
01:09 What other factors do you label to what happened tonight?
01:13 Everybody's preparation was different.
01:18 For us it's just head down and focusing on what we can do and prepare as well as we can.
01:24 We certainly did that to the best of our ability so no excuses but incredibly frustrating.
01:33 Performance wise, Afghanistan were outstanding and we knew that would be the case.
01:39 They were playing really well and the skill they have across the board but their bowling attack would be in these conditions one of the better ones going around or certainly in the top few.
01:51 They were outstanding and for us it's moving on quickly.
01:55 We've got a match in a few days and it's about putting out a better performance.
02:00 Ken, you regret the decision to bowl first and the second question, what are some of the positives you will take out of the body?
02:10 Answer to the first one, no.
02:14 Answer to the second one, we're going to have to sit down and we are going to have to have a chat, review a little bit and then move on quickly.
02:26 I think it's more reminders of what's important to what we do because the tournament is short from here on.
02:33 It was mentioned we've been here for a long time but we knew that when the game started they'd be coming thick and fast.
02:39 It's making some small adjustments and we know we go to a different venue against a different opposition so it's important we prepare for what's in front of us again.
02:49 In the second row.
02:51 Thank you so much.
02:53 Was Afghanistan very strong or you didn't play very well?
02:58 And the second question, what was the target in your mind to limit Afghanistan?
03:03 I think a bit of both. Certainly they're not the standards we expect of ourselves but take nothing away from Afghanistan, they were superb.
03:13 They've been building as a group for some time now and we're seeing performances like that from them quite regularly.
03:21 I think a bit of both. For us it's about reviewing our performance and looking to find areas we can improve on.
03:31 The fielding element for us was important to our team and it wasn't up to the standards.
03:39 The second question?
03:42 What was the target?
03:44 I suppose it's a moving target really. You might have an idea in your mind that on a surface that offers a bit to the bowlers, it's better to not be any...
04:00 They know wickets down after maybe 11 or 12 overs meant they had a very strong platform to get what was a good score on that surface and they did it superbly well.
04:11 I think looking at that surface, maybe if you're taking your opportunities, 140ish.
04:19 Like I say, they played it really, really well and they know the skills that they have with the ball in hand and it was an outstanding blueprint from Afghanistan.
04:30 Like I say, we'll review our own performance and know that we need to be a lot better.
04:37 Kane, the loss against Afghanistan here puts a lot of pressure on the clash against West Indies in Trinidad on a similar surface.
04:46 They also have three spinners they're probably going to unleash against New Zealand.
04:51 How are you guys going to pick yourself up and prepare for that kind of clash?
04:55 I know there are other group matches but it really means you have to probably beat West Indies to get out of this group.
05:00 It's one match at a time and today's disappointing but a big part of this and in tournament sport is picking yourselves up and moving on quickly and reminding yourselves of what's important to our game as a team and look to go out and be a lot better.
05:18 We know how strong the West Indies side is as well.
05:21 All teams are threats, we've seen it throughout.
05:25 The conditions keep changing in this competition and we've seen so many tight matches and that's the nature of it which is exciting in terms of a competition.
05:35 For us, it's changing our focus, looking at some of the areas we can definitely get better at and moving on and look forward to putting out a stronger performance which will be important for us.
05:48 Thank you Kane, thanks everyone. We'll let Afghanistan get underway.
05:52 Thank you Kane.
05:54 [Music]
06:18 [Music]
06:23 Good evening everyone for today's post-match press conference against New Zealand team.
06:30 Our captain Rashid Khan here for your beautiful preparations.
06:34 It's fine.
06:37 They all know me, I'm Rashid Khan from Afghanistan team, national captain. I'm here for the press conference.
06:43 Thank you Zia, thank you Rashid. I'll go first. Rashid, an absolutely incredible performance.
06:48 Of course, your team had won against big teams in the recent past but the performance today from the start till the very end, just the domination of a team like New Zealand which is such a powerhouse in this format,
07:00 having played the final as well as the semi-final in the last two versions of the tournament.
07:05 How do you rate this performance and would it rate amongst the very best that Afghanistan has ever done on a cricket field in an international competition?
07:14 Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Definitely, I think it's one of the greatest victories for us, especially in T20.
07:20 We haven't had those victories in T20 World Cups. We had in ODI but in T20 I feel like this was one of the best performances from the guys.
07:30 It's not just about a single guy winning the game. It's a great team effort, the way Gurbaz and Ibrahim started the inning.
07:38 They took their time and they knew what they were doing. They knew what my skills were and where I can score runs and where I can attack.
07:45 That's the beauty of this team now. We need to beat the teams in our own skills rather than think about the opposition much.
07:52 That's the only thing I have been telling the guys. Just make sure we look into our skills, how good we are.
07:57 Focus on that. It doesn't matter whoever we play as opposition. It's more about how good you are, how good you're going to play,
08:03 and what type of energy you're coming with into the ground. That for me is very important.
08:08 I don't much care about the result, to be honest. I more care about the effort we put, whether it's batting, bowling, fielding.
08:15 That's something which gives me lots of pleasure and energy when I see the guys giving their best, putting effort.
08:21 If it doesn't happen, it's fine. As long as you give 100 percent and you're happy with your efforts at the end of the day.
08:27 Rashid, I think everyone knows how great the Afghans are, but I want to talk about Farouki and the way he has been thus far in this tournament.
08:36 Are we going to see more dance moves from him? I guess that's the impact on him.
08:41 As long as we are in the studies, definitely you will see those dances.
08:44 Definitely we have the bowling coach, DJ Bravo, so once he is there in the dugout, he will teach you lots of moves of the dances.
08:52 I think the way he bowled in the last two games is great. He has given a great start in the last two games.
09:00 I feel it's very important in T20 where you get a good start in the power play, either you batting or bowling.
09:07 I feel that is very important. The way Fazal has given us those starts in both the games, given that energy to the team,
09:14 and which we had carried on after the power play.
09:18 And especially today, Nabi, the way he bowled in the power play in the first two overs, I feel that was very important for us to help support
09:25 and give the kind of support Fazal needs from the other end.
09:28 So, yeah, we will teach him some more dance moves as well, Fazal. I hope you guys will like it.
09:34 Rashid, for the second time in succession, you had two solid opening stance, solid foundation, but then there was a middle order collapse.
09:43 What's your thoughts?
09:44 Well, it's just about the opposition bowl well. It's not about the skills we don't have, the talent we don't have.
09:51 It's just about the opposition bowl well. In T20, it's always there, like such kind of tracks, you know, where you will have those problems
09:59 in the 20th overs. Either you will have a problem in the beginning of the innings or in the middle or in the death.
10:05 And to be honest, in this competition so far, we a little bit struggled in the last four or five overs,
10:10 but the most important part was the start opener given us, which, you know, 100 on stand, and that we tried to carry it on.
10:18 But I assume in the last two overs, especially in this condition, I think it's going to be very hard for the batter who comes in straight away from the bowl well,
10:27 when he tries to hit. We still need to work on those areas where we can improve it and be more smarter, be more using the mind,
10:36 rather than just going for six every bowl. I feel like if we just find more gaps and try to be more smarter than the bowler,
10:43 I think that's where we can get that success. And I still think we have done a brilliant job so far.
10:49 Skip, one of the significant things about these two partnerships you have seen from the openers is the running between the wickets.
10:56 When the boundaries have dried up, they have been converting one into twos, twos into threes.
11:01 We know significant that is in terms of T20 cricket. Tell us a bit about the work your team has been doing in limiting dot balls in the T20 format.
11:09 Well, I think energy is very important in T20 and that you have to show it either you batting, bowling or fielding.
11:15 You know, energy is the biggest thing which gives all the guys the kind of motivation they need.
11:20 And the way the openers run between the wicket in the last two games was exceptionally well.
11:26 And that's the kind of energy they have given us. They batted 12, 15 overs and they're still like in 12th over, 10th over,
11:32 they're still running and two runs and three runs. And that's the kind of hard work they have done.
11:37 You know, it doesn't just happen in the game. There is lots of hard work behind it.
11:41 They took care of their self and I think that's the main reason behind that, that they are very fit.
11:46 They're trying. They know this condition will come where we have to run those twos.
11:50 Twos are very important. Ones are very important in the boundary.
11:53 So for me, that is very satisfying when I see the batters running between the wicket very hard.
11:58 The fielder coming into the ball very hard with the full of energy, putting the effort.
12:02 I don't care about if he missed the ball, if he dropped the catch. I don't care about that.
12:06 But as long as you see that energy, he is coming into the ball to grab the ball. That is very important.
12:11 So guys are working very hard and I think the result is there.
12:16 Rashid, any message at all for the Afghanistan fans? It must be early morning there.
12:20 And you've given them great news, great victory. So anything that you want to say to them?
12:25 Then we'll move to questions in Pashto.
12:27 Well, they must be celebrating now. I'm sure everyone will be up right now.
12:31 And they don't miss our games either. We play at 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 1 a.m. They're always up.
12:37 Not only in Afghanistan, all around the world, wherever they are, they're going to watch the game.
12:43 They don't miss the game. That's the kind of beauty we have back home in Afghanistan.
12:48 And the people, they give us the kind of support and love which does motivate us inside the ground.
12:54 We try our best to give them more happiness.
12:56 As you know, in Afghanistan, cricket is the biggest source of happiness back home.
13:00 And I'm very sure this will give them so much to enjoy, to celebrate this victory.
13:07 Recently, we had so many good wins against the big teams, but this one was also a very special one.
13:13 And thank you to everyone for giving us all the love and support and prayers.
13:17 And we as a team will try our best to give the best for the rest of the games as well.
13:23 Thank you very much, Rashid Khan. Congratulations to you.
13:27 We have a few questions from the audience.
13:32 First, you were the first captain to score a goal in the Nadewal Cup.
13:38 The opening of the partnership between Gurbaz and Ibrahim was also a great success.
13:46 Tell us about the two, if you don't know about them.
13:49 Secondly, you were the first team to score a goal in the New Zealand Cup.
13:55 What message do you have for the team, for the country and for the world?
14:03 And the third question, I was thinking about this when I was in Afghanistan.
14:08 People are watching you on the radio, on TV and on social media.
14:12 They are saying that Afghanistan is in the game and you have a message for them.
14:19 Thank you very much.
14:20 The questions are very difficult to answer.
14:24 First of all, we don't think that we have achieved a record,
14:33 or that this record is a 100-year partnership, or that we have not had a 50-year partnership in the Nadewal Cup.
14:39 We always think about what the team needs and we focus on that.
14:46 In the last two matches, Ibrahim and Gurbaz, and in the last two matches, a 100-year partnership.
14:53 In my opinion, this is a good start for the team.
14:56 This start is always very important in the T20 and the 24-day match.
15:01 It gives the team energy.
15:03 We will continue to work hard to achieve a record.
15:09 We never look at the records.
15:11 If a woman plays on the field, the records will be made by her.
15:15 If you don't think about it, it will be made by you.
15:17 In Afghanistan, people are always waiting for us.
15:22 They always look at us and pray for us.
15:26 This is a blessing for both people.
15:33 They love us and pray for us.
15:35 In my opinion, this is a very important role for us in the team.
15:39 The goal is to win the championship and bring happiness to the country.
15:44 Their support is always very important to us.
15:48 Congratulations to all of you.
15:50 This is a very important tournament for us.
15:56 We will continue to work hard to win the championship.
16:02 We will continue to work hard to win the championship.
16:05 I hope I didn't ask too many questions.
16:08 Thank you, Rashaad.
16:09 All the best for the remaining games.
16:10 Thank you.
16:11 Thank you.
16:12 Thank you.
16:13 ♪ It's our time so let we take it home ♪
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