Afghan players need to capitalize on an opportunity- Rashid Latif

ISLAMABAD: Former Afghanistan cricket team coach, Rashid Latif has said that the Afghan players need to learn to capitalise on an opportunity on the field.The Afghani team faced Pakistan in its first ever one-day international against a Test-playing team on Friday in Sharjah, which Pakistan won by 7 wickets.Commenting on the said match, the former Pakistan skipper, was also of the view that the Afghan batsmen showed signs of improvement against Pakistan in the first-ever ODI but the inexperience cost them.“A few batsmen got the start well but threw their wickets away.
They have to learn to capitalise on an opportunity. Had they applied themselves properly,the scenario could have been different”, Latif was quoted as saying.
Latif however expressed satisfaction over Afghans playing against a team like Pakistan.
“This match must have provided Afghans with valuable experience which will go a long way towards boosting their confidence.”
“I spent a lot of time with the Afghan players. They are mentally very strong and have a great ability to fight till the end. They don’t give up very easily, may be it has become their nature due to the adverse environment they had faced in their country,” added Latif.
Rashid Latif had two coaching stints with the Afghan cricket team. In 2010 he worked as the batting coach and was appointed as the chief coach later. Latif stepped down citing differences with the cricket management of Afghanistan.
Under Latif’s coaching Afghanistan beat Pakistan in the Twenty-20 semi-final at the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China, and won the Inter-Continental Cup.
Last year Afghanistan also became the first foreign team to tour Pakistan since 2009 and played three ODIs against Pakistan. (APP)