Dehradun, home away from home for Afghanistan
The Afghanistan cricket team might be playing Bangladesh in a three-match T20 series in Dehradun, but the ‘homely’ feeling is intact. Not many would know that there is an Afghan connect with Dehradun going back centuries.
Mussoorie was the ‘home’ of Dost Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Barakzai dynasty and one of the prominent rulers of Afghanistan. The Kabul Palace in Dehradun and Balahissar Palace in Mussoorie were built in the early 20th century for Afghan rulers in exile in India.
While Dost was in exile for more than six years in Mussoorie after losing the first Anglo-Afghan war fought between 1839-1842, his grandson, Yakub Mohammad, was exiled to India in 1879. Just like his grandfather, he chose the Doon valley as his home.
Amanullah Astankzai, an engineering student in Dehradun and a cricket enthusiast is proud of his country’s roots in the valley. “It’s wonderful to be studying in a place where our rulers lived once. With the Afghanistan cricket team making it their home, we feel lucky and at home. It is commendable that the BCCI has made provision that all visiting teams in India will play against Afghanistan in Dehradun in future. It is a great moment for us Afghans,” said Amanullah.
Afghanistan captain, Asghar Stanikzai too exuded excitement and said the valley resembled his country.
“It feels great to be in Dehradun. Sharjah and Greater Noida have been our home grounds as well and now we have Dehradun. The best thing about this place is that it looks like Afghanistan, with the mountains surrounding the stadium. It feels like home.”