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One
word.
Four
syllables.
Starts
with
A.
It's
the
name
of
your
opponents
in
the
2024
men's
T20
World
Cup
semifinals.
Had
those
clues
been
given
to
South
Africa's
players
before
the
tournament,
their
answer
would
in
all
likelihood
have
been
that
other
team
whose
name
starts
with
an
A.
You
know
-
those
guys
who
have
limped
home
among
the
16
also-rans
who
tried
and
failed
to
reach
the
knockout
rounds.
That's
right:
Australia.
Instead,
Afghanistan
will
be
South
Africa's
opponents
in
Trinidad
on
Thursday
and
they
will
be
taken
just
as
seriously
as
any
bunch
of
Aussies.
That's
what
beating
New
Zealand,
Australia
and
Bangladesh
in
the
space
of
18
days
gets
you:
respect.
Along
the
way
the
Afghans
were
thumped
by
West
Indies
and
India,
while
South
Africa
have
won
all
seven
of
their
matches.
But
Afghanistan
are
surfing
the
World
Cup
wave
so
impressively
-
and
that
as
a
side
from
a
landlocked
country,
no
less
-
and
South
Africa's
history
in
knockout
games
-
played
nine,
won
one
-
is
so
skewed
that
it
would
not
be
outlandish
to
make
Rashid
Khan's
A-team
favourites.
Indeed,
in
Rahmanullah
Gurbaz
and
Ibrahim
Zadran
they
have
two
of
the
top
five
runscorers
in
the
tournament,
while
Fazalhaq
Farooqi,
Rashid
and
Naveen-ul-Haq
are
among
the
leading
five
wicket-takers.
South
Africa's
top
batter,
Quinton
de
Kock,
is
sixth
on
the
list
and
their
most
successful
bowler,
Anrich
Nortje,
is
joint
eighth.
The
difference
between
these
South
Africans
and
those
who
have
been
to
the
semifinal
rodeo
before
is
that
they
wouldn't
struggle
to
agree
with
the
assertion
that
Afghanistan
go
into
the
match
holding
the
upper
hand.
Because
Aiden
Markram's
charges
are
also
riding
a
wave.
Its
one-word
name
also
has
four
syllables
but
starts
with
R.
As
in
reality.
Here's
a
flavour,
courtesy
of
Rob
Walter
when
he
was
asked
during
a
press
conference
on
Monday
if
he
felt
sorry
for
batters
considering
the
conditions
they
have
had
to
put
up
with
for
much
of
the
tournament:
"The
world
of
professional
sports
doesn't
allow
for
much
sympathy,
but
it
does
allow
for
understanding."
Afghanistan,
too,
are
living
in
the
real
world.
That
was
clear
from
Rashid
Khan's
answer
to
the
question
of
when
he
thought
the
victory
over
Bangladesh
in
St
Vincent
in
the
wee
hours
of
Tuesday
morning
had
been
secured:
"The
only
time
I
believed
we
had
won
the
game
was
when
we
took
the
last
wicket."
You know - those guys who have limped home among the 16 also-rans who tried and failed to reach the knockout rounds. That's right: Australia. Instead, Afghanistan will be South Africa's opponents in Trinidad on Thursday and they will be taken just as seriously as any bunch of Aussies. That's what beating New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh in the space of 18 days gets you: respect.
Along the way the Afghans were thumped by West Indies and India, while South Africa have won all seven of their matches. But Afghanistan are surfing the World Cup wave so impressively - and that as a side from a landlocked country, no less - and South Africa's history in knockout games - played nine, won one - is so skewed that it would not be outlandish to make Rashid Khan's A-team favourites
