Afghan World Cup Cricketers Bring Joy To the War-Torn Nation
Afghanistan secured their World Cup 2019 spot by beating Ireland to win the World Cup Qualifer tournament.
advertisement
When automatic gunfire erupted across Kabul last week, residents initially feared yet another terror attack was under way.
Flag-waving crowds were instead marking another Afghanistan cricket victory, this time over neighbours Pakistan, with pistols, shotguns and AK-47s blasting into the night sky.
The World Cup warm-up victory over the cricketing powerhouse illustrates how far the players from the war-torn country have come.
The triumph was particularly sweet, as Afghans often blame Pakistan for their country's security crisis and economic woes.
"Defeating the number one enemy is a treat to watch for Afghans, especially for our heroes," Nazir Naseri posted on Facebook.
"Finally our wait has ended, we finally defeated Pakistan. Fasting, training, playing.” he wrote.
The Asian side will open their campaign against defending champions Australia in Bristol on Saturday after a string of recent performances that show they are more than just a feel-good story from a conflict-driven nation.
But their build-up to the World Cup, which included a defeat at the hands of England, has not been without controversy.
In April, captain Asghar Afghan was replaced with the little-known Gulbadin Naib, a move that drew widespread criticism on social media.
Training has been complicated by the holy month of Ramadan, which does not end until a few days after their first World Cup match.
Message of Peace
On a recent cloudy afternoon, a group of teenagers were playing cricket on a dusty, dirt pitch in Kabul.
The Afghan boys were observing Ramadan and had not eaten since dawn, but their enthusiasm was undented as they whacked a taped-up old tennis ball down the bumpy field.
"Afghanistan has made great strides in cricket. The national team is an inspiration for me," said 17-year-old Mohammad Ziarmal.
"Cricket brings a message of peace, joy to people, unity and love," he said, adding with a smile he was "confident" Afghanistan would perform well in England and Wales.
Ask any Afghan cricket fan and they will invariably mention spin bowler Rashid Khan, the world's top-ranked Twenty20 bowler and the nation's superstar.
A New Beginning
Afghanistan caught the cricket bug thanks largely to a new generation growing up in refugee camps in cricket-obsessed Pakistan.
Even the Taliban are fans, and eventually allowed the sport to be played during their austere regime. In recent years, officials from the insurgency have said they continue to support cricket.
Ahmad said he was proud that his country would be playing Australia on Saturday.
"The Afghan team did not even exist when Australia won several World Cup trophies, and now we are playing against them," he said.
Kabul shopkeeper Farhad Wahab said whenever Afghanistan play, his whole family gathers to watch the match on television.
"Watching cricket matches brings a lot of fun and joy for all of us," he said.
Last month, an Afghan man made a replica of the World Cup trophy out of grass, and images of his work quickly went viral, ending up on the national news.
Businessman and amateur artist Amanullah Kaliwaal has done something similar, making a trophy out of stones.
"We are hopeful, we trust our team, as the team is very strong.... God willing, we may win the World Cup." he concluded.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)