Hashmatullah Shahidi opens up about Afghanistan’s iconic ODI World Cup victory over Pakistan, shares thoughts on cricketing legends, and previews the 2025 Champions Trophy.
In a recent discussion on a popular Indian podcast, Afghanistan’s cricket captain Hashmatullah Shahidi shared his thoughts on the intense rivalry between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Shahidi reflected on his team’s historic triumph over Pakistan during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, a victory that marked a major milestone after years of near-misses.
Hashmatullah Shahidi emphasized the emotional significance of the win for the Afghan people, noting that it was a long-awaited moment after many close encounters with Pakistan in previous tournaments. “Back home, people were very happy. If you look at previous World Cups, the Asia Cup, and the series against Pakistan, we came very close but didn’t win,” Shahidi said, referencing Afghanistan’s heartbreaks in the 2019 World Cup and 2022 Asia Cup. According to him, winning against Pakistan was redemption for his team after losing several matches that they were poised to win.
Hashmatullah Shahidi described the euphoric moment when Afghanistan secured victory over Pakistan in Chennai. “When we got the opportunity, I was lucky to lead the team, and I finished the match,” Shahidi stated. He went on to explain how he couldn’t sleep the entire night due to the overwhelming happiness that followed their victory. For Hashmatullah Shahidi, the win against Pakistan was particularly monumental, even more so than Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup victory over Australia in 2024.
When asked about his admiration for cricketing legends, Hashmatullah Shahidi praised Virat Kohli’s cover drive over Babar Azam’s, while also naming Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler in international cricket. However, Shahidi didn’t shy away from acknowledging the skills of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, whom he selected as the toughest pacer he has faced among Pakistan’s bowlers.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Champions Trophy, Hashmatullah Shahidi predicted Afghanistan, India, England, and Australia as the top four semifinal teams, notably excluding Pakistan from the list. When reminded of Bangladesh’s recent Test series win over Pakistan, Shahidi calmly pointed out that “the formats are different,” highlighting the difference between ODI and Test cricket.
In closing, Hashmatullah Shahidi shared his all-time ODI World XI, which featured iconic names such as Saeed Anwar, Virat Kohli, and Waqar Younis, along with Afghanistan’s very own Rashid Khan. His thoughtful selection underscored his respect for the game’s greatest players, while also reflecting Shahidi’s deep love for cricket’s rich history.
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