For the three of the lowest-ranked ODI teams - Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland - 2017 was a memorable year for different reasons. But for Zimbabwe and Ireland, there was a fair share of disappointments too. Afghanistan had the best year among the three teams, with the onfield success also translating into IPL, CPL, BPL and BBL opportunities for Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. They even managed to draw a T20I series against Windies, but their biggest success was their entry into the Test arena, along with Ireland, as they were announced as the 11th and 12th Test playing nations. This not only reflected the cricketing achievements and growth of these two teams over the years, but was also a shot in the arm for them with the latest Test entrants setting the benchmark for the non Test-playing nations.
Another successful year for high-flying Afghanistan
Zimbabwe too had their moments in the year, foremost of which was the first-ever series win against Sri Lanka. There was much joy in the camp as the prodigal sons - Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis returned after stints as Kolpak cricketers - while Zimbabwe also had a role to play in a historic moment when they were one of the sides playing the maiden day-night four-day Test. Yet, it was a disappointing end for a 2017 that promised a lot more, with a defeat inside five sessions summing up their up and down year.
Timeline:
Afghanistan began the year on a bright note, clinching the Desert T20 Challenge Trophy. They won all the matches in the tournament, including wins against Ireland in the initial stage and the final, apart from handing defeats to UAE, Namibia and Oman. After their defeat in the opening game to Afghanistan, Ireland registered comfortable victories, including a huge 98-run win in the semi-final against Scotland that would have given them immense confidence. Having amassed a total of 211 against Scotland, Ireland would have hoped to post a sizeable total against Afghanistan. But their weakness against spin was exploited by Afghanistan in the final and set the precedent for what was to follow in the other meetings between these two sides throughout the year.
T20 League riches for Rashid and Nabi
That Afghanistan was a steadily growing cricket nation and a team capable of competing with the big boys were recognised by the biggest of cricketing leagues in the world. While Mohammad Nabi, the experienced 32-year-old all-rounder, became the first Afghanistan played to be picked up by an IPL franchise (for a sum of INR. 30 Lakh by Sunrisers Hyderabad), 19-year-old legspinner Rashid fetched a INR. 4 Crore from the same side.
Weeks after the IPL auction, both Nabi and Rashid had more reasons to celebrate as they became part of the Caribbean Premier League. Nabi was snapped up by the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots for USD 90,000 while Rashid, the 18-year-old leg spinner, went to the Guyana Amazon Warriors for USD 60,000.
As Rashid proved his prowess to the cricketing world, recognition and riches followed as he was signed by Adelaide Strikers and became the first Afghanistan player to feature in the Big Bash League. He was also part of the Bangladesh Premier League, representing Comilla Victorians. Nabi too was part of the Victorians team while he was signed up as a replacement for Sunil Narine by Melbourne Renegades.
Afghanistan extend unbeaten run against Zimbabwe
Ever since their first bilateral series against Zimbabwe in 2014, Afghanistan hadn't tasted defeat in a series against Zimbabwe. The series in 2014, an ODI series, was drawn 2-2, followed by Afghanistan's victories in the limited-overs formats in three series in 2015 and one at the start of 2016. They continued their good run against the African side at February 2017, winning the ODI series 3-2. Having lost the first two matches, Zimbabwe came back well to win the next two and keep the series alive. However, an abject surrender caused Zimbabwe to go down by a big margin in a D/L revised chase of 161 in 22 overs, getting bowled out for just 54.
Afghanistan too hot for Ireland to handle
With a 2-0 ODI series win against UAE, Ireland seemed their had a their preparations in order, to take on Afghanistan in a full series comprising three T20Is, five ODIs and a four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match, all at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in India. However, their inadequacy against spin was a huge chink in the armour that Rashid Khan found it easy to exploit. With nine wickets in the T20I series, 16 in the ODIs and eight in the four-day game, the legspinner made a telling difference in the eventual outcome of the series - A 3-0 cleansweep of the T20Is, 3-2 victory in the ODIs and an innings win in the four-day game.
An IPL to remember for Rashid Khan
That Rashid had immense talent was evident through his wicket-taking spree in the lead up to the IPL. But the question being raised was - Would he justify his 4 Crore price tag? He more than justified that with 17 wickets at an average of 21.05 and an economy of 6.62 to finish as the second highest wicket-taker among spinners in the 2017 edition of the IPL, only behind Imran Tahir. Rashid also finished as the joint sixth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, which helped Sunrisers make it as far as the Eliminator.
Ireland's string of failures in England and at home
Ireland's hopes of playing some of the big nations outside world events materialised in the month of May. As a build-up for the Champions Trophy, England took on Ireland in two ODIs, including a Lord's debut for the latter. Ireland then played host to New Zealand and Bangladesh in an ODI tri-series. However, it was a forgettable month in terms of results for William Porterfield and Co. They could only hope that the experiences made them a stronger outfit. A 2-0 loss to England was followed by a loss to New Zealand and two losses to Bangladesh.
Afghanistan blow hot and cold in the Caribbean
The absence of the hard-hitting Mohammad Shahzad, who was suspended for violating ICC's anti-doping rule, meant that Afghanistan lacked the fire-power at the top of the order to take on the Windies bowlers. A 3-0 victory for the Windies in the T20I series ensued but Afghanistan managed to come back strongly by drawing the ODI series, thanks to Rashid's seven-wicket haul in the first ODI that helped bowl Windies out for 149 in a chase of 213. He even ran the Windies ragged in the second game with figures of 3 for 26 from his 10 overs. But having only 135 runs to defend, Afghanistan didn't have the cushion of runs and the hosts eventually secured a four-wicket win. With the last ODI being abandoned without a single ball being bowled, the teams shared the trophy.
Having set foot on Sri Lankan soil after a drawn ODI series against Scotland, the odds were stacked against Zimbabwe in the five-match ODI series. But taking on a young Sri Lankan side, which was trying to find its feet, Zimbabwe managed to surprise the hosts by securing a 3-2 win in the ODI series, including a narrow three-wicket win in the series-deciding final ODI. They even did well in the one-off Test, with Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza being the stand-out performers. However, a lower-order resistance, led by Asela Gunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella, helped Sri Lanka avoid a complete embarrassment in the series as they pulled off a record chase in the process.
Latest entrants in the five-day formats
Following theICC board meeting in London on June 22, the cricket governing body welcomed Afghanistan and Ireland as the 11th and 12th Test playing nations. Months after the ICC decision, Ireland announced that they will play Pakistan at home in their maiden Test, in May 2018. In December, the BCCI confirmed that India will play host to Afghanistan in the latter's first Test.
Zimbabwe boosted by return of star players
With the return of Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, Zimbabwe's cricket received a huge boost and provided the team a chance to move on from a checkered past. The series against Windies provided Zimbabwe an opportunity to start afresh and define a new path for their cricketing affairs. They managed to secure their first draw in 12 years, but that was only after going down in the first Test by 117 runs. Zimbabwe had their moments in both games but the lack of experience in overcoming pressure situations meant that the series finished on expected lines.
Ireland finally prevail over Afghanistan
The Afghanistan-Ireland rivalry resumed in December with a three-match ODI series in UAE. It was a 16-year-old offspinner - Mujeeb Zadran - who tormented Ireland this time while their usual nemesis Rashid was at it as well. A 138-run victory for Afghanistan in the opening ODI made them the favourites to clinch the series. However, the efforts of George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy and Paul Stirling helped Ireland earn hard-fought wins and with it the series as they ended what was a fairly disappointing year in terms of performance, on a high.
Zimbabwe surrender meekly in historic game
The four-day pink-ball Test between South Africa and Zimbabwe might have been a stop-gap effort from the former to fill something in for the Boxing Day. It, nevertheless, provided Zimbabwe an opportunity right some of the wrongs and prove to the world that they are a team that can compete with the best. However, the effort against Sri Lanka in June seemed like years ago as Zimbabwe's batting line-up was blown to smithereens by the South African quicks as the hosts required less than five sessions to register a win that added more fuel to the four-day concept despite reluctance from several quarters.
Best performer: Rashid Khan
The legspinner was, by far, the star performer from all three teams put together. With 43 ODI wickets at an average of 10.44 and an economy of 3.80, 17 wickets in T20Is at an average of 9.41 and an economy of 4.57, to go with his exploits in league cricket, Rashid was one of the biggest reasons for Afghanistan's continued success in both ODIs and T20Is. Afghanistan finished with 15 wins from 26 matches across the limited-overs formats, while both Ireland and Zimbabwe had more losses than victories.
Worst performer: Peter Moor
While he didn't have the best of times behind the stumps in Sri Lanka, missing a few stumping chances, the wicketkeeper-batsman has also hardly contributed with the bat. An average of 20.64 for 289 runs across international formats in 16 innings, with only one fifty-plus score, highlighted the 26-year-old's shortcomings.
Looking forward to 2018
While their respective Test appearances will keep both Afghanistan and Ireland busy in their preparation for the long format, they as well as Zimbabwe have their tasks cut out before that. The upcoming World Cup qualifiers, to be held in Zimbabwe in March 2018, will feature these three sides along with seven other teams, including Windies, battling for the remaining two positions to be filled up for the World Cup 2019.
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