Afghanistan’s fortunes have drastically changed in the past 48 hours, going from extreme joy yesterday to shock today. The squad lost nine wickets to South Africa and collapsed to a record score of 56 runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup semi-final.

Was there, however, perhaps more to the story than chance and force? Michael Vaughan, the former captain of England, certainly thinks so.

After Afghanistan’s defeat, Vaughan went to X to discuss the risky scheduling of the Afghan team’s semifinal match.

Vaughan’s critique, however, did not end there. He even went so far as to say that the Indian cricket team and their interests were the only ones that the ICC seemed to have at all times, and that the site of the first semi-final was by no means fair to the Afghans.

It is a known fact that the Indian team was certain to be given the marquee match at the more commercially attractive time slot (as per IST), as India plays England later this evening.

But whatever may have happened, might have happened, or ought to have happened, what happened in Trinidad and Tobago today—the Proteas completely destroyed the Afghanistan team—cannot be undone.

Afghanistan was destroyed by players like Jansen, Shamsi, Rabada, and Nortje in the first innings, scoring a pitiful 56 runs in 11.5 overs.

It is difficult to find any cons for the courageous Afghans, who were mercilessly butchered by South Africa’s bowling order, which alternated between tormenting and causing suffering to the Afghanistan batting order.

Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (3/6) took three wickets, but the speed trio of Marco Jansen (3/16), Kagiso Rabada (2/14) and Anrich Nortje (2/7) split seven wickets between them.

Conversely, South Africa, led by Markram and Reeza Hendricks, could not be stopped, except for the early pressure exerted by Fazalhaq Farooqi, who removed opener Quinton de Kock. South Africa reached the total in only 8.5 overs.

Ultimately, the Proteas defeated the Afghans by nine wickets to secure their spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup final—their first-ever participation in the competition.