I won't change my game, I play to entertain fans: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has said that he is not ready to change his game as he plays to entertain the fans.

Gurbaz is an important part of Afghanistan's batting as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The team management would like him to stay at the crease for longer because of the great talent he has. However, this does not always happen, as he often gets out while playing an aggressive style of cricket.

"I think I don't want to change anything in my cricket game because people know Gurbaz, what Gurbaz's style is, and I want to be the same Gurbaz because I want to entertain people, I want to provide fun to the fans who are coming to the ground," Gurbaz, who is playing for Dhaka Capitals in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament, told Cricbuzz.

"I just try to play my natural game. If the situation is difficult then I try to give myself some time, but yeah, clearly everyone knows that I'm playing attacking cricket. Most of the bowlers knows that I'm charging at them but the bowlers also make plans for me and sometimes I'm successful, sometimes I just fail, but that's life. I'm happy the way I'm playing and I'm happy with whatever I'm doing. Hopefully I just keep continuing the same thing," he said.

Gurbaz added that he is happy with whatever he has achieved. "I'm very grateful for whatever I have achieved in my life and from cricket journey. I think it's just, it was just dream to play cricket for my country and then I achieved that. I know how hard was it for me to come and to achieve my national target and then international and plus leagues. But yeah, I'm grateful for whatever I have achieved," he said.

"Sometimes I just feel like I'm lucky that I achieved everything... I work really hard. I love the game. I love practice. I love hard work. So there's one sentence: when you work hard, you will get the result for sure and if not today maybe tomorrow. If not tomorrow, one day you will get it for sure. I am getting the result of the hard work of my last six, seven, ten years," he said.

Gurbaz said that Afghanistan are quite confident ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and feel that they can go all the way.

"I think the biggest challenge for us is to prepare ourselves for the big stage and just to be mentally ready and have a successful year. We already worked really hard and hopefully we will again qualify to the semi-final and final, and win the cup.

"We just need to play a good cricket. No pressure on us. And I think we just need to go to the World Cup and play a best cricket as much as we can and the results will come."

Gurbaz added that the upcoming series against West Indies will help them to get a final look at their combination. Afghanistan are scheduled to play three-match T20 series in Sharjah as part of their preparation for the World Cup.

"West Indies series is very important for our preparation because it's just before the World Cup and then we go straightaway going to World Cup. I think it's gonna be a good preparation for us and yeah, it will help us in our team combination and yeah, we're happy with that," he said.

Gurbaz added that he is very optimistic about the future of the Afghanistan Premier League as it will become a breeding ground for talented cricketers in their country.

"APL will be a very good opportunity for all Afghan players. It's a huge news and also it will help the young generation to earn some money from there and to spend on themselves and it's gonna be a good opportunity for all of us. Hopefully we get a lot of talent from there and to give them chance to the national side as well. I think that will be a good opportunity," he added.