New Delhi. The team that was playing cricket with teams like Jersey, Mozambique, Malaysia, Singapore, Botswana, Vanuatu just 16 years ago has today reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Afghanistan. There has hardly been a team in the history of cricket that has progressed at the pace that Afghanistan has today. The team, which played its first ODI match in 2009 and its first T20 match in 2010, is close to winning the World Cup today by eliminating Australia-New Zealand. Afghanistan’s journey from dark horse to giant can be understood in 5 points.
1. Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995
Afghanistan did not even have a cricket board during the period when Sachin Tendulkar was the biggest star in cricket and was scoring centuries to his name. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was established in 1995, which was recognized as an associate member by the ICC in 2001.
2. The Taliban lifted the ban in 2000
In the 1990s, the Taliban banned many sports in Afghanistan. Cricket was also included in this. In the year 2000, the Taliban excluded cricket from the ban imposed on all sports. It is only after this that the ICC recognizes Afghanistan. In 2001–2002, the Afghanistan team fielded its team in Pakistan’s domestic tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Afghanistan has had to seek the help of Pakistan Cricket as its own country does not have all the facilities, including stadiums, that are required to host matches.
3. Won the Division Five trophy in 2008
The Afghanistan team participated in the 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five tournament. Division Five is the lowest ranked tournament in the ICC. In the year 2008, apart from Afghanistan, Japan, Norway, Bahamas, Jersey, Singapore, Botswana, Mozambique, USA, Germany, Nepal and Vanuatu participated in this tournament. Afghanistan has made the first entry in the cricket world by winning this tournament.
4. The first ODI was played in 2009
After their brilliant performance in 2008, Afghanistan got a chance to play in the World Cup 2011 qualifying tournament. Afghan batsmen are not able to qualify for World Cup 2011, but they definitely achieve ODI status due to their good performance. After this, in 2009, the Afghanistan team played its first ODI match against Scotland. A year later in 2010, Afghanistan also made their debut in T20 international cricket. It also gets Test status in the year 2017.
5. Now Kabuliwala will play the semi-final of the World Cup
Afghanistan are in the semi-finals of the current T20 World Cup. They defeated New Zealand in the group stage to reach this trip. After this, Australia was defeated in the Super-8 stage. Now they will face South Africa in the semi-finals. Not only Afghanistan cricket fans but also world legends believe that Rashid Khan’s fighters can have a hand in the semi-finals. You would neither call it an upset nor be surprised if Afghanistan beat South Africa in the semi-finals. Reason: Where Afghanistan is today (World Cup semi-final), there is no Australia-New Zealand or host West Indies or Pakistan. Afghanistan is the shining star of cricket and there is every possibility that he will not return home before playing the T20 World Cup final this time.
Tags: Afghanistan Cricket, ICC T20 World Cup, T20 World Cup
First published: June 25, 2024, 17:24 IST