Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Afghanistan has entered the semifinal of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, defeating Bangladesh by eight runs (DLS) in a rain-affected match in Kingstown on Tuesday morning.
This is the first time that Afghanistan has made it to the semifinals of any World Cup. Afghanistan’s entry into the semifinals means Australia has bowed out of the T20 World Cup from the Super Eight stage.
In the must-win game, Afghanistan scored 115 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs. It then bowled Bangladesh out for 114 runs in 17.5 overs. Bangladesh was given a revised target of 122 runs after the match was reduced to 19 overs due to rain.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for Afghanistan with a 55-ball 43, while Captain Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran contributed with 19 and 18 runs, respectively. Azmatullah Omarzai added 10 runs off 12 balls.
Rishad Hossain took three wickets for Bangladesh, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman claimed one wicket each.
Opener Litton Das was the lone fighter for Bangladesh in the chase, scoring 54 from 49 balls. Only Soumya Sarkar (10) and Towhid Hridoy (14) managed to reach double digits for the Bengal Tigers. Four Bangladeshi batters were out for a duck.
Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq took four wickets each for Afghanistan, while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib each claimed a wicket.
Afghanistan will now meet South Africa in the first semifinal on Thursday morning, while India will take on England in the second semifinal on Thursday evening.
