England are the favourites, not just for their opening Super 12 game against Afghanistan in Perth, they actually look to be the best among the title contenders at this year’s T20 World Cup.

With a squad full of impact players, the Jos Buttler-captained team has also translated their strength on paper to performances on the field. Be it against Pakistan or Australia, England looked a strong, confident outfit.

It’s a new set-up for them after Eoin Morgan walked away from the arena and Buttler’s captaincy hasn’t really been tested enough in tight situations, but they do have the players who can diffuse pressure. That, even after two of their key men — Jonny Bairstow and Reece Topley — were ruled out with freak injuries.

But to say that England will have a cakewalk against the Afghans will be farthest from the truth. Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket hasn’t been a fluke. Cricket often throws up surprise winners, like when Namibia stunned Sri Lanka in the qualifying round a few days back, but those teams often flatter to deceive. But not Afghanistan.

In war or peace, the Afghans have always been passionate about their cricket, playing as if their lives depended on it. They are fighters and they don’t believe in any elitism on the cricket field. Mohammad Nabi’s boys will look Buttler’s men in the eye, there is no doubt about that.