Afghanistan eye England 'scare' at SCG
Afghanistan believe they've still "got a scare" left in them ahead of their World Cup finale against England in Sydney on Friday.
Remarkably, both sides will go into the match with exactly the same number of points after enjoying a win apiece over Scotland, like Afghanistan a non-Test side.
While Afghanistan's one-wicket defeat of Scotland was the latest chapter in a remarkable rise that has taken them from the lowest rung of international cricket to the game's showpiece tournament in barely seven years, for England victory over their neighbours couldn't salvage another wretched World Cup.
Australia (111 runs), New Zealand (eight wickets) and Sri Lanka (nine wickets) all inflicted thumping Pool A defeats upon Eoin Morgan's team, while Monday saw Bangladesh display greater nerve and skill in a winner-takes-all clash for a quarter-final place with a 15-run victory in Adelaide.
Now Afghanistan coach Andy Moles wants his free-spirited side, featuring pacemen Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran, as well as several hard-hitting batsmen, to pile on the agony.
"They (England) are not in the best of nick at the moment and we still believe that, if at the top of the order with the bat especially, we just need to show a bit more composure, we've still got a scare in us," said Moles.
"If we can play well and hold our nerve on Friday, and we need to be at our very, very best and we need England not to be at their best, we can get a shock," the former Warwickshire batsman added.
England looked anxious during a run-chase that ended with them all out for 260 trying to overhaul Bangladesh's 275 for seven.
By contrast, Moles said his players' unrestrained approach held the key to an upset.
"I think it's just the freedom of play. It's one thing I've tried to allow to happen and enhance.. they must play the Afghan way."
Read the original here:
Afghanistan eye England 'scare' at SCG
- Escaping forced marriage costs more than a house in Afghanistan - Daily Kos - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Afghanistan Journalists Center Calls for Release of Tamadon Television Director and Employee - KabulNow - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Strong M6.1 earthquake hits Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan - The Watchers - Watching the world evolve and transform - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Taliban Arrest Former Police Officer of Afghanistan's Previous Government for the Second Time in Kabul - KabulNow - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- UNDP Reaffirms Commitment to Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development in Afghanistan - 8am.media - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Rain-Related Incidents Kill 5 in Afghanistan - - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Flash Floods Cause Casualties and Property Damage in Eastern Afghanistan - KabulNow - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Afghanistan is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis as overlapping economic and geopolitical shocks drive up food prices, erode livelihoods and push... - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- 6.2-magnitude earthquake hits Afghanistan; strong tremors felt in J-K, Himachal and Delhi-NCR - The Tribune - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Strong earthquake hits Hindu Kush, shaking Afghanistan and Pakistan - CNA - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Strong earthquake hits Hindu Kush, shaking Afghanistan and Pakistan - The Business Standard - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Women Tourists Banned from Entering Panjshir Province in Northeastern Afghanistan - KabulNow - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Five killed as floods, storms hit parts of Afghanistan - Amu TV - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- A magnitude 6 earthquake strikes the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan - - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Strong earthquake hits Hindu Kush, shaking Afghanistan and Pakistan - MSN - June 28th, 2026 [June 28th, 2026]
- Afghanistan's Taliban government imposes smartphone ban on government officials - Reuters - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- MSF: Big rise in the number of malnourished children in Afghanistan - Yahoo - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Franklin County native, last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan, ousted from top Army role - ABC27 - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Afghanistan Placed at Very High Risk for Torture in Global Index Amid Taliban Abuses - KabulNow - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Cricket: Afghanistan women's team ask International Cricket Council for 'clear answers' on future - BBC - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Myanmar replaces Afghanistan as key opium source, impact seen on Indias eastern border: NCB - The Hindu - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- MSF Warns of Rising Severe Malnutrition Among Children in Southern Afghanistan - thekabultribune.com - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Alarming rise in admissions of children with severe malnutrition in southern Afghanistan - MSF - Mdecins Sans Frontires - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Kazakhstan Sends Team of Specialist Doctors to Afghanistan - thekabultribune.com - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Beyond Darkness Screened in UK Parliament; Calls for Greater Support for People with Disabilities in Afghanistan - 8am.media - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- MSF reports sharp rise in severe child malnutrition in southern Afghanistan - Amu TV - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- MSF warns malnutrition in southern Afghanistan rising TB risk in Children - Pajhwok Afghan News - June 26th, 2026 [June 26th, 2026]
- Carter Malkasian: The Afghanistan Reckoning - Foreign Affairs - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Top army general who was last US soldier to leave Afghanistan abruptly steps down - The Guardian - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Afghanistan in crisis: Drought, malnutrition and a worsening humanitarian situation - UN News - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Top Army general who was last US soldier to leave Afghanistan is stepping down - ktnv.com - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Citizens of Afghanistan Hold Protest in Italy in Support of Afghan Women - 8am.media - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- Returning to Uncertainty: How Afghan returnees from Pakistan are struggling to rebuild their lives - Afghanistan Analysts Network - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- United States Joins Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola With Updated International Travel Advisory Levels for American Travelers Planning... - June 24th, 2026 [June 24th, 2026]
- India vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI result and highlights and scorecard as Yashasvi Jaiswal's ton inspires India to a 9-wicket win - Yahoo Sports - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bats against India in the final one day cricket match - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Kazakhstan Delivers 319 Tons of Aid, Medical Mission to Afghanistan - The Astana Times - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- OCHA: An Estimated 16 million People in Afghanistan Will Need Access to Clean Water in 2026 - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Germany May Expand Deportation Flights to Afghanistan - thekabultribune.com - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Kazakhstan and Afghanistan explore cooperation in transport, mining, and trade - Qazinform - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Peace In Afghanistan Is Key To Refugees Return, Says Pakistan Prime Minister - - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- India vs Afghanistan 3rd ODI Live Streaming: When and Where to Watch IND vs AFG Match Live on TV and Online - The Indian Express - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- At the Border: Safe Arrival and Onward Movement in Afghanistan - International Organization for Migration - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- OCHA: More Than Six Million People Have Returned to Afghanistan Since 2023 - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Kazakhstan Delivers Over 300 Tons of Humanitarian Aid and Medical Mission to Afghanistan - Caspian Post - June 22nd, 2026 [June 22nd, 2026]
- Three Medals of Honor Awarded to Vietnam and Afghanistan Veterans - The New York Times - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump presents the Medal of Honor to 3 veterans for heroism in Vietnam and Afghanistan - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Cricket-Centurions Gill and Kishan lead India to series win over Afghanistan - News India Times - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump awards Medal of Honor to 3 veterans of the Vietnam, Afghanistan wars - CBS News - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Dockery 11 Receives Medal of Honor for Actions in Afghanistan - West Point Association of Graduates - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Central Asias Relations With Taliban-ruled Afghanistan Continue to Deepen - The Diplomat Asia-Pacific - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump awards Medal of Honor to three heroes for valor in Vietnam, Afghanistan - Floridas Voice - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- What kintsugi can teach us about return and recovery in Afghanistan - UNDP - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Afghanistan Claims Overnight Airstrikes on ISIS Hideouts Inside Pakistan - Open Magazine - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Afghanistan: Five Years of Taliban Rule| Interview with Hannah Neumann Member of European Parliament - Amu TV - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Human Rights Watch: Accountability for War Crimes in Afghanistan Must Include All Parties - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Where to watch India vs Afghanistan live stream, TV channel, start time and lineups for 3rd ODI - sportingnews.com - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam and Afghanistan war veterans: Great men - Washington Examiner - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump awards medals of honor to Vietnam and Afghanistan war heroes - Washington Times - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Refugee team spreads hope to oppressed women in Afghanistan - The Saturday Paper - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Trump says US may recover all the equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Biden admin - Fox News - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Five Years After the U.S. Withdrawal: Rethinking Engagement in Afghanistan in an Era of Great Power Competition - Small Wars Journal - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Afghanistan wins the toss and bowls against India in the second one-day match - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Caught Between Poverty and Neglect: Afghanistan's Retirees Await Pensions That Never Arrive - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Taliban to Shopkeepers in Eastern Afghanistan: Do Not Sell Goods to Women Without a Mahram - KabulNow - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- UNAMA: Afghanistan Is on the Front Lines of Climate Change Impacts - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Nearly 3,000 People Returned to Afghanistan in One Day Amid Ongoing Deportations - Hasht-e Subh Daily - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- UNAMA: Drought and Desertification Threaten Lives and Food Security in Afghanistan - KabulNow - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Action | India A vs Afghanistan A Live Streaming | Tri-Nation Series Live Telecast: Where To Watch - NDTV Sports - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- How the new Australian War Memorial gallery captures the unsettled history of the conflict in Afghanistan - SMH.com.au - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- India vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI Live Streaming And Live Telecast: When And Where To Watch - NDTV Sports - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- India seal ODI series as Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan crush Afghanistan in Lucknow - The Times of India - June 17th, 2026 [June 17th, 2026]
- She grew up amid war in Afghanistan. Now, this R.I. graduate is trying to help women back home. - The Boston Globe - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Have Afghanistan ever beaten India in cricket? Full IND vs AFG head-to-head record in Tests, ODIs, T20Is and ICC World Cups - Yahoo Sports - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Urgently Needs Reform. Heres How. - The National Interest - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Explanation of Vote Following the Adoption of a UN Security Council Resolution Renewing the Mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in... - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Operation Big Bird: How CEO saved lives of Sesame Street team in Afghanistan after Taliban seized control of wartorn nation - Page Six - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Emmy-winning doc by alumnus highlights resilience in Afghanistan - Susquehanna University - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Protesters in Canada: Gender apartheid and genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan should be recognized - KabulNow - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule: Governance Through Systematic Repression and Gender Apartheid - Modern Diplomacy - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]