Dale Steyn supports Afghanistan’s potential to win an ICC tournament in the next decade, urging players to develop patience. He points out their tendency for aggressive play leads to missed opportunities. Afghanistan’s achievements include competitive performances in recent tournaments, though they face challenges in advancing. Steyn advocates for exposure to longer formats to enhance skills and patience, which are key for future success.
Dale Steyn, the former South African fast bowler, believes Afghanistan has the potential to win an ICC tournament within the next decade. However, he emphasizes the need for their players to develop greater patience in their gameplay. Steyn noted that modern society often lacks patience, which is reflected in the way Afghanistan cricketers approach the game—often seeking quick outcomes rather than taking the time to build their innings.
Steyn specifically remarked on the impatience displayed by Afghan players during matches, saying, “They want things to happen so quickly… there’s no patience to building up and taking a wicket.” He indicated that Afghan batters sometimes attempt to score aggressively from the very first ball instead of steadied play. Steyn believes learning patience is essential for their success.
Afghanistan’s recent performances in international limited-overs tournaments have been commendable, achieving victories over established teams like England, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Despite narrowly missing the knockout stages in the 2023 ODI World Cup, they qualified for the semifinals in the 2024 T20 World Cup, notably eliminating Australia along the way.
Despite their progress, Afghanistan faced difficulties at the Champions Trophy, where their path to the semifinals was complicated by a problematic opening match against South Africa. The subsequent rain-interrupted game against Australia resulted in shared points, hindering their chances of advancement.
Steyn suggested that playing four-day first-class cricket could significantly enhance the Afghans’ ability to build innings and cultivate patience, crucial for improving their long-format and one-day game. He mentioned that traditionally, players would engage in such formats to refine their skills. Although current Afghan players primarily play T20 cricket, he believes exposure to longer formats would greatly benefit their game.
In summary, Dale Steyn advocates for Afghanistan to embrace patience in their cricket strategy to become competitive in ICC tournaments. The team’s past successes indicate potential, but improvements in technique and mindset, particularly through longer-format play, could elevate their game significantly. Steyn’s insights highlight the importance of skill development and strategic thinking in achieving long-term success in cricket.
Original Source: www.news18.com
