Can Afghanistan upset top teams at World Cup?

On a day Afghanistan named a 15-member side for the upcoming World Cup, their former coach Lalchand Rajput believes that they can "upset some of the top teams" in mega tournament, primarily banking on their spinners.

"Afghanistan have got one of the best bowling attacks, especially spinners. In England if there is a good day, where the ball grips and spins, I think they will change some of the games and they will upset some of the top teams as well," Rajput, who is currently the Zimbabwe coach, said in Mumbai on Monday.

Pacer Hamid Hassan and former captain Asghar Afghan were named in Afghanistan's 15-strong World Cup squad headlined by IPL stars Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.

Gulbadin Naib will lead the team which also features Mohammad Shahzad and spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman. Afghan was removed as captain in all formats earlier this year.  

"Their batting is little bit on the slower side (and) playing in England, especially for batsman when it is helpful wicket, it will very difficult, you have (to) adjust to it (the wicket)," noted Rajput, who was also a former India team manager.

"But on the bowling front, they would upset some of the bigger teams on a day where the ball grips. The main game-changer in their team is Mohammad Shahzad and if he gets going in the first half an hour or 45 minutes and he can get quick runs and can really change (the game). Overall I think, they are the team to watch (out for)," Rajput said.

Rashid will be an important cog in Afghanistan's the wheel and Rajput, who has seen the leg-spinner from close quarters, dubbed him as a "match-winner".

"Rashid Khan is a match-winner and with his experience with IPL, Big Bash, Caribbean League and he knows how to win matches. A lot of people have started hitting him, but as I said in England, if it is a helpful wicket where the ball grips, it will be difficult to hit him.

"He will be a game-changer and with Nabi -- with his bowling and batting and Mujeeb  they have got three best spinners in their team. I feel these three spinners can turn tables on some of the top teams," Rajput, who is credited for the rise in Afghanistan's cricket, added.

Asked to name top four teams at the World Cup, Rajput quipped, "India, England, Australia and the fourth team will be chosen among Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand."

Afghanistan squad for World Cup: Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (w/k), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.