Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz expressed his elation and sense of vindication after his team's historic 21-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup. This win was particularly significant for the Afghan team, as it marked their first-ever win against Australia in international cricket. The victory came in the wake of a painful defeat to Australia in the previous year's ODI World Cup, where Glenn Maxwell's remarkable innings had dashed Afghanistan's hopes.
The Afghan side put up a commendable team effort to defend their 149-run target, eventually bowling out Australia for 127 in 19.2 overs at the Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent. Gurbaz, who scored a crucial 60 runs off 49 balls, was vocal about the significance of the win, stating, "They hurt us in the ODI WC, Now We Hurt Them... Baat Khatam!" (It's settled!), a sentiment he shared in the dressing room as seen in a video shared by the ICC.
Gurbaz also recalled his pre-tournament comments, stating he was "hungry" for a win against Australia, emphasising the emotional and competitive edge driving the Afghan team.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan added an interesting anecdote, noting the coincidence of the match dates: "23rd October and now 23rd June. It is a part of history. 23 is my favourite number now," highlighting the serendipitous nature of their triumph.
In the match, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran formed a solid 118-run partnership, with Zadran contributing 51 runs off 48 balls. Their efforts helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 148/6. Australia's chase was thwarted by Maxwell's lone resistance of 59 runs off 41 balls, which ended in the 15th over, tilting the momentum in Afghanistan's favour. Gulbadin Naib and Naveen-ul-Haq were instrumental with the ball, claiming four and three wickets respectively, to seal the memorable win for Afghanistan.
This victory was a testament to Afghanistan's growth and resilience in cricket, marking a significant milestone in their journey and a sweet revenge against Australia.