The journey of Afghanistan Cricket is a testament to the power of perseverance and shared purpose, akin to a fairytale. They have improved tournament by tournament and become the world beaters. This significant leap was a challenging run for them, but they persevered. Afghanistan cricket overcame setbacks, early-day struggles, and hardships to reach a new level. The country, amidst political crisis, found a unifying force in cricket. This love for the sport turned them from a cricketing nation to a quality side. The rise of Afghanistan cricket is a story that every emerging nation and its players should look out for.
From the struggle in the early days to success at World Cup Tournaments
Unlike other cricketing nations, Afghanistan cricket was born amidst crisis and political discrepancy. Cricket was imported into Afghanistan by the refugees who used to live in Pakistan. Two pioneers behind the development of Afghanistan cricket in the initial stages were Karim Sadiq and Taj Maluk. Fans refer to Taj Mulak as the founding father of Afghanistan cricket because he was the first coach of the national team. Karim played an important role for Afghanistan in qualifying for the World Cup tournaments. Mulak started hunting players around the refugee camps in Peshawar and the border near Afghanistan. These two along with many others, set the base for players and arranged camps and facilities, which led to the rise of Afghanistan cricket in the international arena.
The Cricket Board of Afghanistan was formed in 1995, and soon after a few years, it became an affiliated member of ICC in 2001. The Afghanistan cricket players faced a lot of struggles in making a statement in the international arena; players used waste material to create cricket balls and played with sticks. Soon, the Afghan players started playing cricket in Pakistan’s domestic circuit to improve their skills for the international level. After their inception in ICC tournaments, Afghanistan cricket steadily improved. They impressed other nations with their spirited performance in crucial matches.
With the support of neighboring countries’ cricket boards, like India and Pakistan, Afghanistan cricket has produced quality players in the international arena. For the last several years, India has built the capacity of the Afghanistan team by providing infrastructure facilities, sponsorships, stadiums to play bilateral series, and so on. IPL has allowed Afghan players to showcase their skills and talent to the world.
Recent Performances of Afghanistan Cricket and What Future holds for them
There is a lot of hard work and patience behind Afghanistan’s recent rise in cricket. We have seen some brilliant all-around performances from the Afghan team in the 2023 ICC World Cup, defeating Pakistan and England and coming close to defeating Australia. The major change they made is in their coaching mechanism. The Afghanistan Cricket Board hired international coaches like Jonathan Trott, Ajay Jadeja, and Dwayne Bravo. These recent performances have made the Afghan team and the entire cricketing world proud. With the help of these international coaches, players have been able to fine-tune their skills and learn how to handle the pressure of global competition. Their guidance and experience have been invaluable in shaping the Afghan team into a formidable force in world cricket.
The rise of Afghan cricket can also be attributed to the impact of franchise cricket worldwide, which has provided a platform for talents like Rashid Khan, Gurbaz, Noor Ahmed, Ibrahim Zadran, and many others to showcase their abilities. Notably, in the recent men’s T20 World Cup, the Afghanistan team made history by reaching the semi-final stage for the first time. They achieved remarkable victories over teams like Australia, New Zealand, and others, delivering unforgettable performances throughout the tournament. Looking ahead, the Future of Afghanistan cricket appears promising and bright. A team facing financial, infrastructural, and political challenges has emerged as a competitive force on the world stage. Afghanistan cricket has overcome numerous obstacles, from playing in refugee camps to relying on facilities and equipment from other countries. As they defy the odds, the future holds many more exciting endeavors for the team.
Also Read- The Globalization of T20 Cricket and its Impact on Traditional Formats
