Cricket - The harbinger of unity and peace in Afghanistan

Cricket has been the harbinger of unity and peace in Afghanistan

Cricket brings entertainment and it brings fun. It is one of the many sports which are attached to the emotions of millions of fans and the players stand as inspirational icons for them. But can it bring unity and peace in a country? I did not really think the answer was yes until an Afghan fan, who held a placard saying – “Cricket has brought unity and peace in Afghanistan” (in their match against England in the ongoing T20 tournament), told me I was wrong. Afghanistan’s history is a story of war and civil unrest. It remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid and trade with neighbouring countries. And from here, a way out is revealed, a team of heroes taking the hopes of their country high and raising its pride in the international (cricket) arena.

Like India, the earliest days of cricket in Afghanistan also go back to Britishers’ regime, in the nineteenth century. But unlike India, it did not last long there. The second and the burgeoning era of the game started when the Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan started playing cricket and it became popular among them. So, technically the roots of Afghan cricket lie in Pakistan. Cricket later became the only game approved by Talibans. Cricket in Afghanistan, fuelled by the success of its national cricket team, is now growing in popularity. It has risen from the lower levels of international cricket to qualify for the Twenty20 World Cups.

In only 2008, they were in Division 5 of the World Cricket League, and by 2010 they were competing alongside the best teams in the world at the ICC World Twenty20. They played two international series against big teams, Pakistan and Australia. Recently, in 2012 ICC World Twenty 20, they defeated Sri Lanka A in the practice match and put up commendable shows against India and England. Afghanistan has got a lot of raw talent. They have got all the basics right and lack only experience. They never step back, rather look forward to take on better teams. Getting that chance is itself a big achievement for them. The team is yet to have a lot more international exposure and convert the big chances in the international arena.

Despite lacking proper practice infrastructure in their country, they have this zeal to prove that Afghans can also win in cricket. Cricket is not just a game but a ray of hope in their dark, war and poverty ridden lives. Rising in cricket should bring in a lot of hope for the youth of Afghanistan.

This video gives us a glimpse of confidence in Afghan cricket team, their emotional views about their country and the way they look forward to each and every cricket match.