Afghanistan bowled over as national cricket team brings joy and hope to troubled country
▶ The Taliban, former leaders and ordinary Afghans celebrate an emphatic victory over Scotland in Sharjah match
There can be little doubt that whatever travails Afghanistan has suffered in recent times, cricket has been a unifying force in a country that has endured four decades of almost continuous conflict.
But the gloomy national mood changed spectacularly on Monday night, as Afghanistan played its first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against Scotland’s national cricket team in Sharjah.
Millions of Afghans across the country and beyond cheered their national team to victory.
Some said they “wished politicians were like our cricketers” – indicating their frustration with the performance of the former Afghan government and fears for the future.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul in August – and subsequent travel restrictions – there had been speculation as to whether the cricket team would be able to take part in the world cup.
However, on October 6, Qatar’s assistant foreign minister Lolwah Al Khater wrote on Twitter that Afghanistan’s cricket team had travelled to Doha at the request of the Taliban government to take part in a training session before the world cup.
Before Afghanistan’s opening match, team captain Mohammad Nabi told the media that “back home in Afghanistan, there is a lot happening” and that “the only happiness in Afghanistan is cricket”.
“There will be a lot of smiles on their faces … if we do well in the tournament,” the captain said.
As Monday night’s match against Scotland was set to commence, the Afghan national anthem was played while the country’s tricolour flag fluttered in the background in Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they replaced the tricolour with their own flag and banned the national anthem.
On the pitch, Nabi teared up as the anthem was played.
Many Afghans took to social media to react.
“Every Afghan feels the emotions of our captain,” Afghan journalist Habib Khan Totakhil said on Twitter. “This makes the whole nation cry.”
Three of the Afghanistan team play for SunRisers Hyderabad cricket team in the Indian Premier League.
“Their nation has been through so much over the last few months. Can’t help but root for these guys,” said Srinath TB, general manager of SunRisers Hyderabad.
“You need strength to shed tears for others,” said journalist Tamal Saha.
As Afghanistan strolled to a 130-run victory over Scotland, it seemed like all Afghans were celebrating.
From former presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani to world leaders, journalists and activists – and even Taliban officials – everyone posted congratulatory tweets.
“Congratulations to the Afghan cricket team and the entire Afghan nation for the historic win against Scotland,” Suhail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban negotiation team in Doha, said on Twitter.
“Afghanistan won,” said another senior member of the Taliban, Anas Haqqani, as soon as the match was over.
But the streets of Kabul were quiet after the match, a sign that sentiment in the capital is still subdued.
Usually, sport victories in Afghanistan would be marked with celebratory gunfire and Afghans would march in the streets holding national flags, playing patriotic music and performing attan – the country’s national dance.
Afghans from across the country have supported the team through its ups and downs.
One resident of Kabul said
Afghans from across the country have supported the team through its ups and downs
that he had to take his TV into the hallway to watch the game as his mother was not feeling well.
“They are our heroes. They bring us happiness no matter what troubles we are in,” he said.
Osman Hamim, 37, a development worker, said the progress that Afghan cricket has made in recent years has been remarkable.
“The cricket team is one of the major achievements of the past 20 years,” he told The National.
“Most of the Afghans had been losing hope in the last two and half months.
“The national team’s recent win gave people a fresh spirit of hope.”
Mr Hamim said his friends shared celebratory messages on social media following the game.
“The tricolour national flag brought people from different backgrounds together to cheer the team and celebrate its great victory,” he said.
For Sobhan, 14, a Kabul street seller, the best thing about the victory was simply that it was a great match.
“They played very well. I was so excited when Mujeeb [ur Rahman] took five wickets. They made us all very happy,” he said, his face flushed with joy.
Khair Mohamad, a Taliban fighter serving at one of Kabul’s police check points, told The National that he was proud of the team.
“I am glad our cricket players won an international match.” he said. “It is good for the whole country.”
Several people on the streets of Kabul said the cricket victory had not only brought joy to the nation but also created hope in the hearts of millions of Afghans.