They lost the opener against India but Afghanistan have shown the spark to be in the big league even though it would be too big an ask for them to upstage South Africa.
The first Affiliate Member of the ICC to qualify for a senior ICC event, Afghanistan have earned much admiration already for the stunning rise to prominence.
Commentators are still trying to get used to the war-ravaged country’s cricketers, who are trying hard to make an impression.
Their batsman Noor Ali found some recognition in the match against Indian after managing to pull off a half century in the lost game.
South Africa will have to have a really bad day in office to lose their match with in-form batsmen like Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and skipper Graeme Smith, the Proteas would look to get over the 14-run loss to India in their lung-opener.
Smith is, however, guarded in his assessment of the unknown rivals.
“Afghanistan are a potential banana skin because they are unknown but they have a lot of talented cricketers, they’ve overtaken all the others in the minnow division. It’s going to be nerve-wracking playing them,” Smith had said at the start of the tournament.
