Emotional Afghanistan need calm on World Cup debut: coach

Wednesday, 18 February 2015 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Afghanistan are excited about their World Cup debut against Bangladesh on Wednesday, but must stay calm on the field lest their emotions overwhelm them, coach Andy Moles said.

The match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval is arguably Afghan cricket’s biggest since the Taliban lifted a ban on the game in 2000 and counts as another step in the fairytale journey that started in Pakistan refugee camps for many of the players. “They feel a real, genuine honour to be here and they want to do well for the public at home,” Englishman Moles told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday ahead of the Pool A match. “It’s a massive inspiration generally for the players. They want to do well for the public at home and that’s a really important message. “It’s been well documented the hardships that the players and the general public have at home all over Afghanistan. “The next 24 hours... is getting ready for the game, is to make sure we’re calm, we’re calculated and make sure we execute our plans and if we do that Bangladesh can look forward to a very hard game tomorrow. “What happens is when we don’t play our best cricket, we just get a bit excited. We want to hit fours and sixes.” One of four non-test playing nations at the World Cup, Afghanistan are well-placed to bring down Bangladesh, two days after Ireland rocked the cricket establishment by toppling West Indies in Nelson, New Zealand.