Afghanistan soar into final four

We review the Super 8 phase of the T20 World Cup and touch upon Afghanistan's glorious triumph, India's sweet win against Australia, and the hopes for the semis and final.

Talking Points:

• Afghanistan's historic wins over Australia and Bangladesh


• Gurbaz and Zadran - the rocks around Afghanistan's journey


• Playing their first official cricket match to 2004 to a semi-final in 2024


• The political question around Afghanistan - and absence of public pressure


• Rohit Sharma's assault against Australia in St Lucia


• India and South Africa thriving with their Test-quality attacks


• The mystery of Kuldeep - and his indecipherable fastish spin


• Looking ahead to the semis and final

Participants:

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee)

Ashoka (@ABVan)

Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo

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Buy books republished by 81allout:

War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee

Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward

The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh 

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Related:

• ‘Cricket is the only source of happiness back home’ - Ben Morse and Masoud Popalzai - CNN


• The World catches up with Australia - Gideon Haigh - Cricket et al. substack


• Perfect Imperfection for Imperfect Tournament? - Neil Manthorp - Manners-on-cricket substack


• Human rights question hangs over success story of Afghanistan's men - Sidharth Monga - ESPNcricinfo