The Fairytale Rise of the Afghanistan Cricket Team

The emergence of Twenty20 cricket may not sit well with some purists, but for one country in particular it has provided a route onto the International scene. Since Afghanistan were first granted membership by the ICC in 2001 they have strived to make an impression. In the West Indies, they have that chance.

In a country that is unhappily associated with the war on terror, there has not been a great deal for the people of Afghanistan to cheer about. However, this all changed on the 13th of February when the national cricket team defeated Ireland and earned their place at the ICC World Twenty20.

Taking place in the Caribbean, Afghanistan will have the opportunity to play alongside, and against, the strongest nations in world cricket. In their first match they take on India who boast some of the most destructive batsmen in the game. It will be a real test, but one that the players are all looking forward to.

“It will be fantastic to see the likes of Sehwag and Dhoni as they are players that we have watched and admired for a number of years,” explains Afghanistan Team Manager Bashir Stanikazi. “We will try our hardest and hopefully we can give everyone we play a good game as we are representing everyone back home. We certainly have the ability to cause an upset.”

Simply qualifying for the tournament has been a major achievement and it was clear to see how much it meant to the players. Upon realising they were heading to the West Indies each player broke down in tears of joy. Emotions also ran high as the squad returned home and were greeted by thousands of cheering fans at Kabul airport.

“As soon as we landed we noticed a huge crowd of people all standing and cheering for the team. Even members of the government and the head of the national cricket board were there so it was a massive honour for all of the players. It was an incredibly happy moment for the team and definitely the best day of my life.”

It has been a quite astonishing rise through the cricketing ranks for Afghanistan who less than two years ago were in the fifth tier of the World Cricket League. Now they can look forward to playing in the World Twenty20 and have achieved ODI status for the next four years.

For now though, their focus remains solely on performing well in the Caribbean. “Unfortunately are preparations have been interrupted because of the ash cloud so we have been stuck in Dubai longer than we anticipated, but, everyone is ready to show the world what they can do. We have some very strong players such as Hamid Hassan and Mohammad Shahzad, plus Twenty20 is the kind of game that if you play well on the day then you can beat anyone.”

Drawn against two of the world’s strongest one-day outfits, India and South Africa, it could not have been much tougher for the emerging nation. But as Stanikazi mentioned, in Hamid Hassan they have a real prospect. A player that can reputedly bowl over 140kph, Hassan has represented the MCC and bowled in the nets against his idol, Freddie Flintoff.

“Hamid is one of the players that we have high hopes for. If he can perform well on the International stage then we are hoping that he might be picked up by one of the English county sides. It would be a great way to promote cricket in Afghanistan.”

This tournament is a great platform for the players to showcase their talent but Stanikazi confesses that there is plenty of pressure on the players from supporters back home. “The people in Afghanistan are looking for us to win every game we play so there is pressure on the players. They have been working towards this moment for the last eight years so we will give our all and see where that gets us.”

The Afghan players have faced many challenges in their young lives already with many forced to leave the country of their birth due to the conflict. It would be of no surprise if they continue to defy the odds and shock the established cricketing nations at the World Twenty20. India and South Africa, you have been warned.



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