Afghanistan captain Nowroz Mangal is confident that his team's batsmen
will be able to make the most of a training camp in India ahead of the
ACC Twenty20 Cup, to be held in Kathmandu from 3-11 December.Afghanistan's batting group is in Pune and have been training at the
Poona Club to get themselves attuned for the upcoming tournament which
is a build-up to the ICC World Twenty20 2012 qualifier in Dubai, to be
held in March 2012."We have been in a camp at a first class ground from 19 November. We
have an experienced coach like Umesh Patwal of the Global Cricket School
working with us to iron out our flaws. This is a good opportunity for
our batsmen, who have been either out of form or injured, to get a hit
out. This has been most beneficial for us as a group," informed Mangal.Afghanistan has already booked a berth in the ICC World Twenty20 2012
qualifier, but Mangal is keen for the side to make a statement at the
ACC Twenty20."We have been the champion of this event in 2009. So even if we may
have been booked our place for the qualifier, the focus of the side is
to be a champion at the end of the tournament in Kathmandu. We will try
to use every opportunity available to make a strong statement. The boys
are working hard for that target," said Mangal.Afghanistan's batting group of seven players will be in Pune till 29
November and then head to Nepal for the event. Afghanistan played the
UAE in an Intercontinental Cup game in Sharjah in October and
thereafter also participated in the SAARC tournament in Maldives. Mangal
believes the team is in the best frame of mind right now."Few of the boys were injured and few others are coming back after a
well-deserved break. Shadir Noori, Najib Zadran are some of the boys to
watch out for. We need to focus on team work to continue winning. We are
preparing with that plan in mind," reckoned Mangal.Afghanistan has featured in the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010. In the event
held in West Indies, Afghanistan played against India and South Africa
and captured the imagination of everyone."Our dream is to play in an event like the ICC World Twenty20 2010
again. We will try very hard to make it to the ICC World Twenty20 2012.
It will be a dream come true if we happen to play in Sri Lanka next
year," concluded Mangal
