Afghanistan have little time to regroup ahead of their next game at the World Cup against Sri Lanka on Tuesday
Afghanistan vow to learn from loss
Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib says his side will learn from their seven-wicket humbling by Australia on Saturday as they seek to regroup for the rest of their World Cup campaign.
The rank outsiders at the tournament in England and Wales had a terrible start against the defending champions in Bristol, slumping to 2-5, with both openers out for nought.
They fought back bravely, with 43 from Rahmat Shah and 51 from Najibullah Zadran, but were still dismissed for 207 with more than 11 overs to spare.
Australia romped to victory in the 35th over of their innings, David Warner top-scoring with 89 not out.
Naib said his side did not get the momentum they needed at the start of the innings because they lost early wickets, saying they could not afford to cede the initiative against strong sides.
"Definitely, we can play against these kind of teams, so you should take positive things from them," he said.
"Obviously, we have a tough match upcoming. Every team, especially for us, is a tough team, so we are just waiting for our turn.
"These kind of teams, they don't give you a single chance but they are coming really hard. We just look and we just take a positive thing from today."
Naib welcomed the vocal support for the Afghan team from the crowd.
"Obviously, if you have this kind of audience and they are supporting you and you know they are on your side you take a lot of positive things," the skipper added.
"So the crowd all support Afghanistan and there was a huge number of Afghans in the crowd there, so it gave a lot of energy on the ground for the boys."
Zadran said the morale of Afghanistan, playing at just their second World Cup, remained intact despite this heavy defeat as they looked forward to their second match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
"We will take some positive thinking," said Zadran. "We are a good side and we have an opportunity to beat any side in the world so, inshallah (God willing), we will come back strongly."
He added he still hoped Afghanistan could reach the semi-finals, in a tournament in which all 10 teams play each other to determine the last four.
"We are a good side, we have good spinners and a lot of matches remaining."
2019 World Cup
Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets
June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge
June 9: India v Australia, The Oval
June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton
June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval
June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge
June 25: England v Australia, Lord's
June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)
July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)
July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford
July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston
July 14: Final, Lord's
For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE