Will the Afghanistan team be able to enter the Super 8?: Afghanistan lost to New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup and then lost to South Africa in a thrilling double Super Over. Now, the team's problems have only worsened.
The Afghanistan cricket team has lost its first two matches of the T20 World Cup. This has dealt a severe blow to the team and its fans. Afghanistan had a chance in a thrilling match against South Africa, but despite their best efforts, they lost. Now, questions are being raised about whether South Africa will be able to reach the next round, the Super 8s. While this is a possibility, the equation is quite difficult.
A double Super Over match was played at the historic Ahmedabad ground -
As part of the T20 World Cup 2026, the teams of Afghanistan and South Africa faced off at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Just as the ground was historic, so was the match. The first double Super Over match of the T20 World Cup was played in the world's largest cricket stadium, leaving fans of both teams breathless. Now, the team has lost two consecutive matches.
After New Zealand, South Africa also defeated Afghanistan -
Rasid Khan is leading the Afghanistan team in this year's World Cup. Afghanistan was defeated first by New Zealand and then by South Africa. However, Afghanistan's remaining two matches are against comparatively weaker teams. Although the team has lost two matches, it is still not out of the race for the Super 8s. However, its hopes have certainly diminished.
Afghanistan's remaining two matches are against the UAE and Canada -
Afghanistan's remaining two matches are against the UAE and Canada. If Afghanistan can maintain their composure for this long against South Africa, defeating the UAE and Canada shouldn't be too difficult. Afghanistan won't be able to achieve this simply by winning; they'll need a big win to increase their net run rate. When two teams are tied on points, net run rate is the deciding factor. Let's now outline two scenarios that could help Afghanistan advance to the next round.
Scenario 1- If New Zealand defeats South Africa, the results of the other matches should be as follows:
- UAE should defeat South Africa
- Canada should defeat UAE
- New Zealand should defeat Canada
If this happens, New Zealand will top the Group D points table, and Afghanistan and South Africa will be tied on 4 points each. In this case, net run-rate will come into play, allowing Afghanistan to advance to the next round.
Scenario 2- If South Africa defeats New Zealand, the results of the other matches should be as follows:
- Canada defeats New Zealand
- UAE defeats Canada
- South Africa defeats UAE
If this happens, South Africa will top the Group D points table with 8 points, while Afghanistan and New Zealand will each receive four points for their efforts. If Afghanistan's NRR is better than the Kiwis', they can qualify for the Super 8 round.
When are Afghanistan's next matches?
Afghanistan's next match is against the UAE on February 16th. They will then face Canada on February 19th. Both these matches will be crucial. The performance of other teams should also be monitored.
Disclaimer
Possible11 is a sports news and analysis platform designed purely for entertainment and educational purposes. All match previews, player insights, and team analyses are based on publicly available information and expert opinions. We do not promote or support betting, gambling, or real-money gaming in any form. Users are encouraged to enjoy our content responsibly and use it for informational purposes only.
Give Your Feedback