T20 World Cup 2024: Rashid Khan Happy to Prove Brian Lara Right After Afghanistan Beat Bangladesh

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Rashid Khan has said Brian Lara was the only expert to put Afghanistan in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024, and the skipper is happy to prove the West Indies great's prediction right after creating history on Monday (June 24).

Afghanistan pulled off a brilliant 8-run (DLS Method) win in a rain-affected Super 8 clash against Bangladesh at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent to reach the semi-final of a World Cup for the first time in their cricket history.

Rashid and and Naveen-ul-Haq led the Afghan bowling attack and helped their side defend the given target of 115, which was revised to 114 after reduction of overs to 19 after interrupted play in the second innings.

Afghanistan's win meant Mitchell Marsh-led Australia were knocked out of the tournament afer Aussies ended up in third place in the Group 1 table of the Super Eights with just two points following defeats to India and the Afghans.

After the match, an elated Rashid revealed no body except Lara had given Afghanistan a chace to reach the semi-final and said it's like a dream momment for the team on reaching the last four.

"It's something like a dream for us as a team being in the semifinal. It's all about the way we have started the tournament. The belief came while we beat New Zealand. It's unbelievable, I don't have any words to describe my feelings," Rashid said at the presentation ceremony.

"Back home, everyone is so happy for this big achievement. The only guy who put us in the semifinal was Brian Lara and we proved that right. Before the competition at the welcome party, I told him, 'We won't let you down. We'll make it through and prove you're right.'"

Lara had predicted Afghanistan would reach the T20 World Cup semifinals nearly a month before the tournament began and now that the giant-slayers have proved him right. The only team missing out in Lara's prediction is West Indies, who were pipped to the last four by South Africa.

The skipper was also proud of his team's fight despited posting a below par total against Bangladesh in the crucial match. But Rashid was aware that Bangladesh may look to chase down the score early to reach the semi-final themselves and that played to Afghanistan's advantage.

"I am proud of this team. We thought 130-135 was a good total on this wicket. We were 15-20 runs short. It was all about the mindset. We knew they would come hard at us to chase that in 12 overs to get into the semifinal," Rashid added.

"That's where we could take advantage. If we bowled into the stumps, we had a better chance to getting them out. We didn't have to do anything extra. We just had to be clear with our plans. We put in the effort, that's in our hands."

Rashid and Co will next face an unbeaten South African team in the semi-final on Wednesday (June 26) at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad & Tobago.