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Afghanistan cricket: Rise of a war-torn nation



Afghanistan cricket: Rise of a war-torn nation | Planet "M"
Afghanistan fans congregated on the bank to cheer their team
Two Twenty20 World Cups appearances with a 3rd chance in the coming month of March in Bangladesh: Afghanistan is on a roller-coaster ride when it comes to their international cricket lately.

It wasn’t a long time ago when in October 3 last year, they qualified for 2015 Cricket World cup; defeated Kenya to finish second in the World Cricket League Championship with Ireland topping the table from Associate members pool of the ICC.

History


Talking about a civil-war affected nation where the Taliban is more authentic and vividly acknowledged amid countrymen than the local government, cricket has got a better way to unite people tightly.

Although it was only during the Afghan wars that cricket became popular amongst refugee camps – established in the North West Frontier Province region of Pakistan in the 1980s. Following the developments, later in 1995, Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed. And since then, there has been no looking back.

Making into the members list of Asian Cricket Council in 2003 and attaining an Affiliate membership from the ICC in 2001, cricket is the only sport in Afghanistan to be approved by the Taliban in the year 2000.

Domestic Structure and Performance


Over the years, playing in various ICC and ACC tournaments, Afghanistan cricket team have displayed constant improvement and received praiseworthy mentions from every corner of the world.

The Afghanistan players celebrate their 34-run win over Kenya | Planet "M"
The Afghanistan players celebrate their 34-run win over Kenya
Not only the international performance, but the domestic structure of cricket also got change by the course of time. Inter-provincial tournament which started with 25-over match and 22 provinces, later, in 2011, was reorganised to a 50-over match format and divided into two sections: Challenge Cup and Elite Cup.

The UAE based Telecommunications Company Etisalat is now the main sponsor of Afghanistan Cricket amongst others.

Afghanistan’s progress and development in cricket arena reflects from the fact that it’s the only country that received Associate membership in a short period of time. The reward came through Asian Cricket Council (ACC) who nominated Afghanistan after a continuous progress in the country’s cricket development.

After ACC, UAE cricket board also come up to support Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) by announcing Sharjah Cricket Stadium as Afghanistan’s home ground for use in ODIs and first-class cricket due to security issues in the war-torn country.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) too took major steps towards Afghanistan’s 2015 World Cup preparation by providing technical and professional support including high performance camps and advanced coaching skills courses.

In the recent fixture of ICC U19 World Cup, Afghanistan’s junior cricket team stunned three-times champion and last year’s runners-up Australia by 36 runs in the second league match of Group B. whilst senior team is all set to debut in the 2014 Asia Cup against current champion Pakistan on Feb 27, 2014 in Bangladesh.

Timeline

1995: Foundation of Afghanistan Cricket Federation, now known as Afghanistan Cricket Board
2000: Cricket becomes the only sport approved by the Taliban
2001: Became an Affiliate member of the ICC
2003: Inducted in the Asian Cricket Council
2007: Won first tournament, shared ACC Twenty20 Cup with Oman
2009: Became the first Affiliate member in the history to get ODI status. Won the first ODI v Scotland by 89 runs
2010: Played first T20I v Ireland, lost by 5 wickets. Later, qualified for 2010 ICC World Twnety20 – team’s first major tournament
2012: Played first ODI match against Full-time ICC Member (v Pak in February and v Aus in August)
2013: Promoted to Associate members of the ICC. Also, qualified for 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup – their maiden 50-over world cup

Stats

ODIs: Total 27, Won 16, Lost 11
T20I: Total 22, Won 11, Lost 11

Unity via cricket


Steadily making baby-steps, Afghanistan is rapidly impacting cricketing world through its potential whilst leaving a roomful of possibilities to be a new emerging Asian giant.

Cricket in Afghanistan not only resurrecting people’s life, but also evolving a new nation. Kabul’s National Cricket Stadium recently witnessed an example of it when home team arrived after qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. There was a huge celebration – continuing from the airport to the stadium. A massive number of people were out on roads, fearlessly. There was no scar that day. All they want is to cheer for their team.

Indeed, sports have the ability to provide ways of friendly communication. Nelson Mandela was true in saying, that:
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”
#CWC #U19CWC Afghanistan Cricket
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Cricket South Africa – It’s a happy ending like the Bollywood movies


“For the world, South African cricketers may be better known as ‘chokers’ rather ‘Springboks’ before ‘the Proteas’; but on ethics and modularity, they are cricket’s most competitive troops who have gone through anything and everything which could deprive a lot of international cricket territory.” Writes Monika Arora

Cricket South Africa – It’s a happy ending like the Bollywood movies | Planet "M"
South Africa Cricket Team Captain - Graeme Smith with his team-mates
If the combination of champions makes a team the best, then isn’t it worth to say that an equally competitive team also able to nourish the same talented lads?

 In the current international cricket arena, the rise of Proteas is the same saga. From 1991 to till today, the growth and impact of African cricketers are distinctive on world cricket.

Sports, in particular, define a term to bridge the gap between cultural and bilingual differences. On the contrary, it’s a rare fact that social ambiguities have created harmony for the same. History books are full of evidences claiming war like situation for the sake of communal welfare rather whole community of a nation.

Alas, the world would have been a better place to die for had there been only peace on the sovereign background.

They say, it’s easy to start but hard to sustain. And once you got a rhythm, it’s even harder to halt. But what if continuity was interrupted for an unknown period of time? The reasons could be anything! Probably, they might have forgotten to mention this – Willingness has greater impact than to its father.

Within a short span of 23-years (read as after apartheid), a racism segregated nation not only seen a world class team blossoming upfront but also has given tremendous gems to cricket in return.

From 1889, the start of Test cricket in South Africa, to 1970, they only competed against the likes of Australia, New Zealand and England. However, they once had all distinction to grow better. Not surprising as after apartheid, in 1992, they participated in the World Cup and ended their brilliant run in the semifinals.

In a glance:


The past (who shined and, still, dominating):


Do you remember Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Allan Donald, Kepler Wessels, Hansie Cronje, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp? A series of momentums flash on your memory screen as you read. Too easy, NO?

The present (who are too hot to handle):


And their successors: Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Duminy, AB de Villiers, Morkel duos, Paul Harris, Alviro Petersen, Philander, Theorn, Botha, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and the list goes on. Modern day heroics ah!

The bearers (who just stepped up and left unbiased):


In case you might have missed,

Ashwell Prince: first black captain of the South African Test team.

Makhaya Ntini: first Black South African Test cricketer and surely the most renowned one.

The survivors (who played during the apartheid era):


Neil Adcock: first African pacer to have 100 Test wickets.

Peter van der Merwe: first captain who led to first Test series win in England in 1965.

The forgotten ones:


Barry Richards: Wisden cricketer of the year, 1969

Ali Bacher: last SA captain before apartheid

Clive Rice: Wisden cricketer of the year, 1981

Mike Procter: Wisden cricketer of the year, 1970

Eddie Barlow: captained SA during apartheid private tours, and

Graeme Pollock: best after Bradman in terms of batting average, then.

To name a few, aforementioned could have ended on a better note yet they prefer to survive within Africa rather moving to elsewhere.

And the prestigious one:


Basil D’Oliverira – a promising ‘coloured’ classified cricketer under an apartheid regime back then, has captained SA’ national non-white cricket team before migrated to England to play cricket. Had he never been selected in touring England side to SA in 1968-69, there may have not been an isolation of cricket in South Africa for next 22 years.

Though, he never got the chance to represent South Africa but was arguably played for England – courtesy his immense talent. Very few know that he has named Wisden cricketers of the year for 1967.

Enclosure:


The then government forcible policies may have banned International cricket but the efforts of numerous individual entities successfully kept cricket culture alive at domestic level. Whereas Derrick Robins, an English sports promoter, organized some private tours to South Africa in the early apartheid era.

Later in the 80s, the rebel tours of England, the West Indies and Australia ensured anti-apartheid efforts running in the background where, in 1970, ICC failed as an international ban of cricket.

For the world, South African cricketers may be better known as ‘chokers’ rather ‘Springboks’ before ‘the Proteas’; but on ethics and modularity, they are cricket’s most competitive troops, who have gone through anything and everything which could deprive a lot of international cricket territory.

Nevertheless, it’s a happy ending like the Bollywood movies.
Ali Bacher Analysis Apartheid
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