Aspiring nations can take a cue from Afghanistan

Afghanistan are set to play their first-ever Test match against India from Thursday. It’s just a reward for the people of a country that adore cricket and their players, who despite facing huge challenges, lifted their nation to great heights. They have earned the honour to be known as Test players through sheer hard work.

There are many countries where cricket was played even before the people of Afghanistan fell in love with game, and yet not been able to achieve what Afghanistan has managed over the last few years.

Afghanistan fans backed their players despite them being not as skilful as the stars from Test playing nations.

They accepted them as their heroes and hailed each and every performance. Whenever they won trophies, these fans lined up to receive them on arrival.

They have taken a step ahead of countries like Kenya and the UAE, both of whom have played in a World Cup before them.

Their war-torn country and lack of facilities for the game never stopped them from pushing hard.

Incidentally, Afghanistan have raced past even a Test playing nation like Zimbabwe in the ODI rankings, and in the T20 International rankings they are above Test nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Igniting hopes

It is important that fans and players in Kenya, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe ask themselves as to how Afghanistan managed to rise above them despite the lack of experienced players.

In case of the UAE, their players often fade away quickly as they make it to the national team only past their prime. It is easy for a country to find excuses when they slip down the ranking table.

What they need are cricket board officials who are keen on promoting the players than themselves. Kenya, Zimbabwe and even the mighty West Indies, suffer today due to their cricket board’s wrongdoings.

Afghanistan players have hardly got the opportunity to play against world class players. but they sharpened their skills to be good enough to challenge the best players in the world.

They hardly bothered about their lack of exposure or facilities.

If leg spinner Rashid Khan can rise from nowhere and spread fear among world’s renowned batsmen, what is it holding back players from other countries?

Afghanistan have shown that any nation can rise to great heights if people there genuinely love the game. When Afghanistan play their first-ever Test, it will also ignite hopes among their youth to aim to be a Test player.

Who knows, a legend from the country may be round the corner…

Afghanistan have shown that any nation can rise to great heights if people there genuinely love the game.