Afghanistan’s explosive opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz is brimming with confidence about his team’s chances at the T20 World Cup, particularly with matches being held in Guyana.
This time, he is not ‘calling all Warriors’ as he issued a passionate plea for Guyanese fans to support Afghanistan in their biggest Group C encounter yet—against New Zealand on Friday, June 7th, at the National Stadium in Providence.
Gurbaz, a familiar face to Guyanese cricket fans through his participation in the Guyana Amazon Warriors of the Caribbean Premier League, believes local knowledge will be a key factor in their success.
“I love being here in Guyana,” Gurbaz told News Room Sport. “It’s one of my favourite places to play. Everyone is so friendly, and the crowd support was incredible last time.”
Gurbaz smashed a blistering 76 off just 46 balls in their opening match, a dominant 125-run win over Uganda. He acknowledges New Zealand’s challenge but believes Afghanistan can rise to the occasion.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz chats with Uganda’s players after the game•Jun 03, 2024•ICC/Getty Images
“It will be a great game, no doubt,” he said. “It won’t be easy for either side. It’s shaping up to be a close contest, but if the conditions remain similar, it could favour us, especially considering the strength of our spin attack.”
Currently ranked 10th by the ICC, Afghanistan is gaining the attention of pundits, with many tipping them as potential semi-finalists in the T20 World Cup.
Gurbaz’s call for Guyanese support could be important as they navigate a crucial group stage encounter.