Wicketkeeper-batsman Ikram Ali Khil broke Sachin Tendulkar'srecord that stood for 27 years in World Cup cricket during Afghanistan's lastleague game against West Indies on Thursday.

The Afghans lost by 23 runs in Headingley but Ikram playedan impressive inning before falling for 86 off 93 balls. In the process, the18-year-old broke Tendulkar's record for the highest score by an 18-year-old ina World Cup game.Ikram's innings against the Windies saw him move ahead ofTendulkar's score of 84 which came 27 years ago against New Zealand in 1992."I'mvery proud to have broken the record of a legend like Tendulkar. It makes mevery happy," Ikram was quoted as saying by the ICC.However, Ikram's idoalis not Tendulkar but it is former Sri Lanka keeper Kumar Sangakkara. "KumarSangakkara is always in mind and my thoughts when I am batting out there,"he said."His ability to rotate strike and find a boundary when needed,that is what made him a world class batsman. That is what I try to copy as muchas I can."Chasing 312, Afghanistan came out with a spirited battingperformance but they failed to register their first win in the ongoingtournament.There was a mixture of pride and frustration at producing thehighest score by an Afghan at this World Cup for the Ikram."I'm very happythat I scored 86 runs which was the top score for Afghanistan," saidIkram."No one had crossed that mark in the nine games but I'm disappointedat the same time because I thought I could score a hundred. Hopefully in thegames ahead I will score a hundred for Afghanistan.

"I want to work very hard at my game and become thebest-ever player produced by Afghanistan. I'm very happy with the experience Ihave got at this World Cup. Both playing with my teammates but the oppositionas well, the likes of the West Indian players, Australians, Indians,Pakistanis, they have all helped me and guided me."That has given me a lotof confidence and I will go home and work really hard on my game," headded.

Afghanistan failed to win even a single match in his editionof the World Cup. However, they gave a lot of teams, including India, a run fortheir money and made sure they cannot be considered as minnows in worldcricket.