In the pursuit of happiness: Afghan cricket team
One country that promises a lot in the coming years is most certainly the national cricket team from war-torn Afghanistan. Pakistan’s neighbors have been at war since 2001 and with little infrastructure and facilities, the Afghani cricket team continues to impress the cricketing globe with stellar performances against ICC associate teams. Despite being paid menial wages, it is their passion for the sport of cricket that pushes them forward to work better and harder on rare international opportunities.
Currently, Afghanistan is ranked at the third spot in the ICC’s Intercontinental Cup. Their rise to success is a very moving story. Cricket was introduced to Afghanistan through the refugees who had moved to Pakistan after the Soviet invasion and played cricket in the streets of the camps as children. These people continued to play cricket once they had returned back to Afghanistan and despite a lack of cricketing opportunities, their passion for the sport continued to soar.
Afghanistan’s version of ‘Shoaib Akhter’ is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 cricket team,” he says. “We both started at the bottom and gradually made our way up.”
The longing to create an Afghanistan cricket team was approved by the International Cricket Council, but more importantly, it was the will of the Afghani cricket players to play cricket at the highest echelons in the face of adversity. The final chapter of this story began in 2008 when Afghanistan went to play in Division 5 of the World Cricket League in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jersey-c41001. Leslie Knott, a Canadian photojournalist mentions how the Afghan cricket team on their tour used to cadge for pound coins in order to get something to eat.
The Afghan team’s thirst to play competitive cricket was never ending. They continued to sail through Division 5 and then Division 4 of the Cricket League. Eventually, they made their way to League Three. The Afghan teams’ success however came to a halt as they missed an opportunity to find their way to the 2011 World Cup that is going to take place in the sub-continent.
However, the Afghan team struck gold. They defeated UAE to qualify for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. Afghanistan went onto to defeat http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 - the other team to make it to the T 20 World Cup – pushing their fans back home into rapturous applause. The next game was completely different. The dichotomy in the backgrounds of the Afghan and the Indian captain was stark as they met on the cricket field to play against each other. Afghan captain Nowroz Mangal used to play cricket in a refugee camp with a ball made out of cloth and shoes used for stumps – receiving 50 pounds a day when on tour. On the same pitch stood M.S Dhoni, allegedly a mega star who earns millions of U.S. dollars in endorsements.
Pakistani international cricketer Kabir http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 served as the coach of the Afghan cricket team to hone the side into becoming more disciplined in order to improve their overall game. He has seen this team rise like a phoenix from its ashes. “When I first saw them I thought they had a lot of raw talent but no patience,” he says. “We worked hard on the mental aspect of their game. Hunger is a key factor behind their success. Whoever they play, they expect to win.”
Pakistan’s obvious interest in Afghanistan cricket has thus far seen a steady rise. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 has also played a very positive role in developing the Afghan cricket team by conducting training camps in Pakistani cities of Abbottabad and Islamabad. The PCB also hopes to invite the Afghan cricket team to play matches in Pakistan. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) along with the ICC are doing a commendable effort to help develop infrastructure and sporting facilities in the war torn country.
In their ongoing tour to the United Kingdom, the Afghan team has posted a spectacular score of 349 for 5 on Day 1 of the first-class match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 only yesterday. One can hope that the Afghan side proves their mettle yet again in a classy game of cricket.
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