Afghan Team Is Winning Matches As Well As Hearts With Its Sheer Professionalism

Afghanistan are in the Super Four of the Asia Cup. They have barely played any cricket in their home country. The players and officials have been living lives of cricketing nomads. They are hungry for matches against top teams.

Arani BasuUpdated: Sep 22, 2018, 12:27 IST
Afghanistan

If there was one word to define the way Afghanistan have gone about their cricket over the last couple of years, it has to be spirit. Their emergence has coincided with the downward spiral of Sri Lanka, and their presence in the Super Four of the Asia Cup here is testimony to their fighting spirit.

After beating Bangladesh on Thursday night to top Group B, 16 hours ahead of their match against Pakistan, Afghanistan's star performer Rashid Khan put to rest the controversy surrounding the skewed schedule of the tournament. "We can't afford to look at the schedule. We are professional players. It didn't matter if we had to play another match in 14 hours. We can play even now." Rashid's statement was more about sending a message to the opponents. They are hungry for matches against top teams.

Afghanistan cricket

AP

A cramped schedule would be last on the list of challenges faced by Afghan cricket. They have barely played any cricket in their home country. The players and officials have been living lives of cricketing nomads - from Lahore, Dubai to Greater Noida and Dehradun - in search of decent facilities to improve their game.

"We just need to improve and focus on ourselves. We just need to show what talent we have. We have improved our fitness in the last six months. And that has helped us in this tournament," Rashid said, talking about their vision.

There's more to their rise as a powerhouse in the subcontinent than just their seniors putting their heads down. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been proactive in ensuring nothing hinders the growth of cricket. The moment the political tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan grew, the board shifted the base of the senior team from Lahore to Dubai before building healthy relations with India.

Afghanistan cricket

AFP

Pakistan shaped their cricket initially and then India lent a helping hand, including hosting their first Test match in June this year.

Afghanistan's U-19 team made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this year. A process has been set in place, along with getting first-class league started. From PR companies to emphasis on catching young talent, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has been proactive in its endeavour to popularize the sport. The idea came after observing football's struggle to take off.

"We invested in the game as a project. There were posters put up to get people playing. We reached the rural areas and got deep into the country to find talent. And now cricket is the No.1 sport in Afghanistan," a proud ACB CEO Shafiq Stanikzai had told TOI when they were allotted their first Test.

Afghanistan cricket

AFP

ACB has done well to set up a system to compete on the world stage but they are yet to penetrate more than half of the country. Most players come from the eastern and southern part of Afghanistan. These parts of the country touch the border of Pakistan and popularizing cricket would have been relatively easier. Their brand of cricket has kept the cricketing world excited. If they do manage to consolidate, as the authorities in Kabul have planned, the established teams will have a serious competitor to deal with.

22/4/2025 2:49:4
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