Afghanistan backed by massive home support for ICC World Twenty20 2012 – Cricket News Update
Going into the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Twenty20 2012, Afghanistan has the backing of a massive support crowd back home, with the entire nation banking on the team to put up a competitive show during the mega event in Sri Lanka.
“The support is quite huge,” said team manager http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Cameron-James-Borgas-c49157. Every single Afghan
is supporting the Afghan national cricket team.”
Following the introduction of cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, the sport’s popularity has been on a steady rise, having received the backing of everyone from the masses, to the government, and
even the notorious Taliban.
The Afghanistan national team made their way into the spotlight as one of the more promising Associate Members of the International Cricket Council, after they managed to qualify for the World Twenty20 in 2009-2010.
The team went up against top Test-level sides http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, with both matches ending in defeat. However, bolstered by the experience against Full Member teams, Afghanistan focused on building up their experience and improving performances.
The team is now recognised as one of the ICC’s top Affiliate members, having played a total of 23 ODIs (out of which they have won 12, in addition to having earned ODI status valid until 2013), and 11 T20s (out of which they have won 6).
The year 2012 has been particularly exciting for the still-developing side, as they played two ODIs against top-level opposition Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, in addition to cruising through the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in March, to earn a chance to showcase
their improved talents on the international cricketing stage.
Afghanistan have drawn a difficult pool for the group stage of the tournament, having been placed in Group A with giants http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 and India. However, the team has expressed their eagerness to put up a good show and meet the expectations back home, as they
prepare for their first match, due to be played against India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, today on September 19.
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