# The Dark Horses of the World Cup 2023: Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Netherlands
The ICC cricket men's world cup 2023 is underway in India, and while the usual suspects like India, Australia, England and New Zealand are expected to dominate the tournament, there are three teams that are making waves with their unexpected performances: Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Netherlands.
These three teams have shown that they are not here to just make up the numbers, but to challenge the established cricketing nations and create history. Let's take a look at how these teams have fared so far in the world cup and what makes them the dark horses of the tournament.
## Afghanistan: The Rising Stars of Asian Cricket
Afghanistan is a team that has risen from the ashes of war and turmoil to become one of the most exciting and talented teams in world cricket. They have qualified for their third consecutive world cup, and have already caused a major upset by defeating Pakistan by 81 runs in their opening match⁵.
Afghanistan's strength lies in their spin bowling, led by their charismatic captain Rashid Khan, who is widely regarded as one of the best spinners in the world. He is ably supported by Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq, who can all trouble any batting line-up with their variations and accuracy.
Afghanistan's batting is also improving, with the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi showing their skills and temperament. They also have some explosive hitters like Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan and Afsar Zazai, who can change the course of a match in a few overs.
Afghanistan's biggest challenge is to be consistent and handle the pressure of big matches. They have shown that they can beat any team on their day, but they also need to avoid complacency and maintain their intensity throughout the tournament. If they can do that, they can go a long way in the world cup and inspire a whole generation of cricketers in their country.
## Bangladesh: The Tigers Roar Loud
Bangladesh is a team that has always been underestimated and underrated by many cricket fans and experts, but they have proved time and again that they are a force to reckon with in world cricket. They have qualified for their sixth world cup, and have already registered two impressive wins over Afghanistan⁴ and England².
Bangladesh's strength lies in their batting, which is led by their experienced and versatile captain Shakib Al Hasan, who is one of the best all-rounders in the world. He is supported by some talented and aggressive batsmen like Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudullah Riyad, who can score runs against any bowling attack.
Bangladesh's bowling is also improving, with the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz providing pace and spin options. They also have some handy all-rounders like Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mahedi Hasan, who can contribute with both bat and ball.
Bangladesh's biggest challenge is to overcome their mental barriers and perform well in crunch situations. They have often choked or collapsed in crucial moments of big matches, which has cost them dearly. They need to believe in themselves and play with confidence and passion. If they can do that, they can surprise many teams and fans in the world cup and achieve their dream of lifting the trophy.
## Netherlands: The Giant Killers of European Cricket
Netherlands is a team that has defied all odds and expectations to qualify for their fourth world cup, after missing out on the last two editions. They have already stunned the cricketing world by beating South Africa by 38 runs in their second match³, which was their first ever win over a full member nation in a world cup.
Netherlands' strength lies in their team spirit and fighting attitude, which has helped them overcome many challenges and obstacles in their cricketing journey. They are led by their inspirational captain Pieter Seelaar, who is a left-arm spinner and a handy lower-order batsman. He is backed by some skilled and determined players like Max O'Dowd, Ben Cooper, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe, who can all play important roles with bat or ball.
Netherlands' bowling is also impressive, with the likes of Timm van der Gugten, Paul van Meekeren, Vivian Kingma and Brandon Glover providing pace and swing options. They also have some useful spinners like Saqib Zulfiqar, Philippe Boissevain and Logan van Beek, who can keep the batsmen in check.
Netherlands' biggest challenge is to cope with the conditions and the quality of opposition in India, which is very different from what they are used to in Europe. They need to adapt quickly and play with courage and conviction. If they can do that, they can cause more upsets and prove that they belong to the elite level of world cricket.
These are the three teams that are making the world cup 2023 more exciting and unpredictable. They have shown that cricket is a game of skill, passion and spirit, and that anything is possible on the field. They have earned the respect and admiration of the cricketing fraternity, and have given hope and joy to their fans. They are the dark horses of the world cup 2023, and they are here to stay.