AFGHANISTAN CRICKET TEAM…WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

BY CHANTELLE PILLAY

IN a country where kite flying was once banned, a cricket team has burst into the international arena that has qualified for the International Cricket Council’s World Cup.
The Afghanistan National Cricket team is presently touring South Africa. The team took to the cricket pitch in 2001 and has risen through the World Cricket League ranks where they began playing in the fifth division in 2008.
Cricket was first played by the Afghans in the mid 19 Century, and like all sports, was banned by the Taliban, but it becam an exception in 2000, giving birth to the Afghanistan Cricket Federation. It became a member of the ICC, the year after. It was then, that the cricket dream had begun.
Being invited to play in the second tier of Pakistani domestic cricket that year caused a stir in the international media because the US-led War on Terror on Afghanistan while the team was still in Pakistan.
The Afghanistan Cricket Team played many more matches from here. The year 2007 was victorious for them when they won their first tournament. At the beginning of this year, the team moved ahead to the World Cup qualifier by winning division three of the World Cricket League in Buenos Aires.
Although Afghanistan was affected by war and had very little cricket experience, for the cricket team make such progress is phenomenal.
Coach Kabir Khan, made it known that all the team’s training was done in Pakistan and said that the pitches in Pakistan were more batsmen-friendly.
Cricket South Africa’s liaison manager Haroon Nosarka said he was extremely proud and taken back by the Afghanistan Cricket team.
After twelve countries participated, Afghanistan received One-Day International Status, which is a great achievement.

source:Lenasia Indicator