Afghanistan and West Indies have qualified from Group C for Super 8 in 2024 T20 World Cup. [Getty Images]

Afghanistan impressed fans as they beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by seven wickets in Trinidad to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup Super Eight on Thursday (June 13). Afghanistan completed a hat-trick of wins in their first three games — against Uganda, New Zealand, and PNG — in Group C in the mega ICC event.

Earlier, co-hosts West Indies booked their place in the Super Eight stage from the same group. New Zealand have been eliminated after back-to-back losses against Afghanistan and WI.

In the latest game, PNG were bundled out for 95 in 19.5 overs after being asked to bat first by Afghanistan. Kiplin Doriga top scored with 27 off 32 balls while Tony Ura and Alei Nao were the other batters to reach double digits.

Fazalhaq Farooqi starred with the ball for Afghanistan, returning with figures of 3/16, while Naveen-ul-Haq bagged two wickets.

In response, Afghanistan achieved the target with 4.5 overs to spare. PNG impressed with a brilliant start as Semo Kamea dismissed Ibrahim Zadran for a duck. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai also departed early. Gulbadin Naib stayed unbeaten on 49 off 36, including two sixes and four boundaries to take the team over the line.

Fans on X (formerly Twitter)

One user wrote:

‘Bhai ye team Wc trophy deserve karti hai , abtak sabse achcha cricket inki taraf se dekhne ko mila hai !!!!!!’ [‘Brother, this team deserves the trophy, we’ve witnessed the best cricket from this team till now.’]

Another user wrote:

‘Finally Rashid Khan’s dream of winning the World Cup might as well come true.’

‘Most dangerous bowling side in Westindies,’ wrote an X user.

Here are a few more reactions:

“Feeling great to qualify for the next round” – Rashid Khan on Afghanistan qualifying for 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8

Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan was delighted as they qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8. The leg-spinner credited the side for their clinical performance with the bat and ball. He said in the post-match presentation (via ESPN Cricinfo):

“Feeling great to qualifying for the next round. Great effort from the boys since game one. They know what they to do and have executed beautifully, making things easy for me. It is important to have someone like him, Gurbaz who goes out and takes on the bowling or Farooqi who picks up wickets in the powerplay.’

“If the batter is attacking then as a bowler you have to attack too especially with pitches helping you. They have given us good starts in the last two games and today was a good opportunity for the others to spend some time in the middle,” Rashid added.

Afghanistan will play their last group-stage T20 World Cup match against West Indies in St. Lucia on Monday (June 17).