Afghanistan look to maintain winning streak

Afghanistan's Twenty20 World Cup preparation has been far from ideal in the aftermath of the country's Taliban takeover in August but captain Mohammad Nabi hopes his team's performance can bring about some joy back home.

Afghanistan take on Scotland today. Two teams so far played six T20I matches and Afghanistan has never lost a T20I game against Scotland.

But Scotland are brimming with confidence ahead of their Super 12 clash and the side want to use the mega event as a platform to push their case to become cricket's next full member, batsman Calum MacLeod said on Sunday.

Due to visa issues the Afghan team arrived in the United Arab Emirates late and a bit undercooked, having played only three T20 internationals against Zimbabwe since March last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's not that ideal," Nabi told reporters on Sunday, a day ahead of their opening Super 12 match against Scotland in Sharjah.

"The fans are really waiting because the only happiness in Afghanistan is cricket. If we do well in the tournament and win games, the fans will be really happy and there will be a lot of smiles on faces," he said.

Meanwhile, the Scottish side won all three matches in the preliminary round, including a victory over Bangladesh, to seal their spot in Group Two.

Scotland, currently an associate side, have long harboured hopes of getting promoted to become full members - the elite group of teams permitted to play in the traditional five-day test matches.

The International Cricket Council has 12 full members, with Ireland and Afghanistan the last teams to be promoted in 2017.

Progressing to the Super 12 stage will allow Scotland, who famously defeated England in a 50-over international three years back, opportunities to rub shoulders with the game's elite.

"I think it's hugely significant, not just for the team but for the organisation and some of the aspirations that Cricket Scotland have," MacLeod, 32, told reporters.

"We want to be the leading associate, and we want to push our case to be the next full member."