Afghanistan turn to comfort food and togetherness after Super Over thriller, as captain urges pride over blame despite slim Super Eight hopes

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After almost snatching victory twice from South Africa before losing off the final ball of a dramatic second Super Over in Ahmedabad, Afghanistan were left grappling with heartbreak that has all but ended their hopes of reaching the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. In the aftermath, the players found solace not in recrimination, but in food, conversation, and collective resolve.

Speaking in Delhi ahead of Afghanistan’s third group match against UAE, captain Rashid Khan revealed how the team coped immediately after the loss. “We were in Ahmedabad and told the manager to order food — Peshawari food, dal bukhara, dal makhani, and some tandoori chicken,” Rashid said with a smile. “That was our way to vent the anger.”

Amid the rich, comforting flavours, Rashid stressed the importance of unity and avoiding finger-pointing after one of the most tense matches the format has produced. “No one should say he did this or he did that. It brings negativity into the team,” he said. “No one player has lost the game — the team has lost. As captain, I don’t want to hear blame. That disappoints me more than the defeat itself.”

Despite the positivity, Rashid admitted the pain of the loss will linger, likening it to Afghanistan’s crushing defeat against Australia at the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai. “It’s very hard to lose a game you had in your hands a couple of times,” he said. “It never goes out of your mind. Like the Australia game at Wankhede in 2023 — it stayed until we finally beat them in the 2024 World Cup.”

That night at the Wankhede Stadium remains etched in Afghanistan’s memory. After posting 291 for 5 and reducing Australia to 91 for 7, they were undone by Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary double century. Rashid recalled how the team responded then — much as they did in Ahmedabad. “We all gathered in the manager’s room, had dinner together, and spoke positively. Supporting each other in those moments is so important.”

Rashid’s message to his squad remains consistent. “This is the time to stick together and keep our heads up. If we let ourselves down, it can push us back one or two years, and that’s something we don’t want. We learn from it, we move on. The result didn’t come, but the effort was there, and that matters.”

In the short term, Afghanistan face the likelihood of a group-stage exit. Having already lost to New Zealand and South Africa, they must beat UAE and Canada, while also relying on a series of favourable results and net run-rate calculations. Barring multiple upsets, the 2024 semi-finalists are set to miss out on the knockout rounds — a prospect that frustrates Rashid given the progress the team has made.

“We worked very hard over the last year or year and a half,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn’t go your way. Out of 100 times, if you succeed 99 times, people talk about the one time you fail and forget the rest. That’s the real challenge — to keep your level high. But it’s also enjoyable. The more you practice, the more control you have over your skills.”

Rashid ended the day on a lighter note when a local reporter suggested he visit Lajpat Nagar, a Delhi neighbourhood known for its strong Afghan community, to satisfy his craving for home food. The captain laughed off the idea. “Before, we used to go when we weren’t very famous,” he said. “Now it’s a bit difficult.”