SA vs AFG: 0,2,0,0,2... Who would have imagined that Afghanistan would be in this state at the semifinals!?

Afghanistan's team was all out for 56 runs in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. Most of the runs in Afghanistan's innings came from extras.

Ankush Pandey Ankush Pandey
Jun 27, 2024 - 09:19 Updated: Jun 27, 2024 - 09:53
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SA vs AFG: 0,2,0,0,2... Who would have imagined that Afghanistan would be in this state at the semifinals!?
Afghanistan innings all out for 56 (Photo: AP)

The Afghanistan team was all out for just 56 runs in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup (2024). The entire Afghan team (AFG vs SA) looked helpless in front of the South African bowlers. The situation was such that the Afghanistan team made many embarrassing records in their name. Only one batsman from Afghanistan was able to cross the double-digit mark during this period. The surprising thing was that the Afghan team, which played well throughout the tournament, got the most runs in the innings as extras.

After winning the toss, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan decided to bat first. This decision proved wrong immediately. Rahmanullah Gurbaz returned to the pavilion in the first over of the innings. That too, without opening his account. Even after this, wickets kept falling continuously. By 23 runs, half of Afghanistan's team had returned to the pavilion. Zadran was out after scoring 2, Gulbadin scored 9, and Azmatullah scored 10 runs. Mohammad Nabi's account could not even be opened.

Even after this, no player could stay on the pitch. Karim Janat and Rashid Khan played innings of 8-8 runs. While Naveen Ul Haq scored two runs. For South Africa, Marco Jansen took the maximum three wickets for 16 runs. While Tabrez Shamsi took three wickets for just 6 runs. Kagiso Rabada and Enrique Norkya got two wickets each.

This is the second-lowest score by any test-playing nation in the T20 World Cup. England's team is still number one in this matter. The English team was reduced to just 55 runs against the West Indies in 2021.

Lowest scores by a test-playing nation

55: England vs West Indies, 2021

56: Afghanistan vs South Africa, 2024

60: Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, 2014

70: Bangladesh vs New Zealand, 2016

However, this is Afghanistan's lowest score in any T20I match. Earlier, the lowest score of the Afghan team was 72 runs, which they made against Bangladesh.

Afghanistan's lowest scores in T20I matches

56 VS South Africa, 2024

72 VS Bangladesh, 2014

80 VS South Africa, 2010

80 VS England, Colombo, 2012

Also read: T20 World Cup 2024: Team India's chances of reaching the final are uncertain due to the potential threat of rain and the absence of a reserve day. 

"Apply your mind," Rohit Sharma said, laughing off Inzamam-ul-Haq's claims of tampering with the ball.