There is no denial that war and conflict ravaged Afghanistan has started making giant strides in world cricket. In only two years of getting full ICC membership they have developed nucleus of a strong test team. In not too distant past also they got ODI status and started playing T20 cricket. In T20 Afghanistan is ranked than few other ICC full member countries. The way they are shaping up in ODI also they may surpass few. Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi are most sought after players in global franchise. Young Afghans are steadily growing and may soon take Afghans among the top of the cricketing nations.
Believe it or not Afghans ride to the present state was not a bed of roses. Conflicts ravaged Afghanistan did not have proper domestic format, not a good ground for playing cricket even in 2010. Most of the recent generation Afghans learned and practiced their cricket in camps in Peshawar, Pakistan. Afghan cricket board operated from a small office in Shahre Now near Heart Restaurant in central Kabul. But there was no dearth of passion and commitment. Initially coaches like Kabir Khan and then Injimamul Huq, built in them “Never Say Die” attitude. Afghans have very strong mind set and they are super fit athletes. In few years they have developed very dynamic domestic cricket structure. The shorter version and longer version cricket formats in Afghanistan is among the best in the world now. That is why following Nabi and Rashid the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Qais Ahmed and Zakir Khans are coming like free flowing fountains. In the recent past Afghans have started finding quality young batsmen both for longer and shorter version. And they have great sponsors from different countries.
Situation in Afghanistan still not good for hosting international cricket. India is the adopted country for Afghanistan Cricket. Indian government is assisting them a lot. They started at Noida and then moved to Dehradun. Their UAE sponsor has arranged for them practice facilities in UAE . Sky is the limit for Afghanistan in cricket.
We have already seen how seriously Afghanistan prepared for the one off test and Tri Nation T20 series in Bangladesh. They were far better performers than the host Bangladesh, in the OBHAI only test in Chattogram. In fact Afghans dominated and dictated the test right from the word go and deservedly won the test by 224 runs. They batted with patience and maturity, bowled and fielded aggressively toying with complacent host.
They proved as far superior team in two of the four group matches in T20 series and as the first of the three qualified for the final with two games to spare. Neither Zimbabwe nor Bangladesh in business as usual appear to beat them.
Hope teams like Bangladesh, Ireland and associate countries would learn lessons from Afghanistan.
If you ask them they would say fitness is the key .Afghans are super fit, they have very strong passion for the game and they hate to loose. From my personal experience can say they Afghans are very hospitable nation and deserves rich accolades for their achievement so far.
BDST: 1046 HRS, SEP 20, 2019
SMS
