'Everybody loves this Afghan team...even Taliban are fans'

In a win for the history books, with the redoubtable Rashid Khan leading the way, Afghanistan qualified for their maiden T20 World Cup semifinal with an eight-run win over Bangladesh in a rain-hit Super 8 match here, adding a golden chapter to their cricketing history that has survived war, political ostracisation and lack of even a base at home.In the process, Rashid's maverick team knocked out 2021 champions Australia after having humbled them in their previous Super 8 match. The Afghans will now face South Africa in the last-four stage on June 27. medium111253408Last year too, Afghanistan saw a dream run in the ODI World Cup with victories over former champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.The team's rise in international cricket has been unbelievable. Before 2023, it only secured a single victory in the big stage after its qualification. Most of the Afghans picked up the game as refugees in camps in Pakistan and since then it has spread to different parts of the country with clubs mushrooming in 34 provinces that organise various tournaments from school to T20 leagues. Close to 10 Afghan team members play in international T20 leagues across the world.Speaking to TOI+ last year, Jafar Haand, a journalist who has chronicled the team for over two decades, said, "I can now see a different Afghan cricket team and this team has strong unity, spirit, desire and determination. It shows that Afghanistan are capable of beating teams like Australia and India.""There are a lot of things going on in the country. An earthquake recently hit Afghanistan and a wave of refugees are coming in from Pakistan. These things motivated the Afghan players to work hard and bring smiles to the faces of the common people," Haand said. medium105092846Q: What is the role Jonathan Trott and Ajay Jadeja have played in the background?A: I met Jonathan Trott [Afghanistan coach] in Australia during the T20 World Cup in 2022. He is a very straightforward person and is really strict and professional.The players are really happy working with him. Jadeja [Afghanistan team mentor during 2023 World Cup] during came at a crucial time to help Afghanistan. Though it is too early for me to comment, I can see some changes in the batting lineup post Jadeja's entry into the coaching squad. medium105092677Q: What has made you most happy about the Afghanistan performance so far?A: Honestly, it has to be the batting. Ikram Alikhil and Azmatullah Omarzai made me very happy. No one thought that our batting would be this good.The others like Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz have been superstars for Afghan cricket.Q: From playing in the fifth division of international cricket, to being on the verge of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup semi-finals. How did Afghanistan's cricketing journey start?A: Afghanistan got affiliated member status in 2000. The team did not have an international ground, coaches or other resources.The first generation of Afghan cricketers, those who learnt the game in refugee camps in Pakistan, came back to play for Afghanistan.The first generation worked really hard and believed in themselves, they had self-confidence and went through many ups and downs. Q: Despite the Taliban enforcing sharia, how did cricket survive?A: Cricket is more than a game for those in South Asia. Most of the Taliban used to live in Pakistan and know about the game. They’ve grown up playing and watching the game.During the first term of Taliban, they did not believe that Afghanistan would reach this level. They said that a few people were playing cricket, so it was best to let them be.When the game came to Kabul, the locals did not know what the game was. They thought it was a Pakistani game that was brought by refugees. There was strong opposition to cricket. There was no cricket ground in Afghanistan and most of the games were played in the streets or school grounds. But Allah Dad Noor, the first chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Federation, and others were determined. There was only one ground in Kabul and that was in Wazir Akbar Khan, near the British embassy. So Noor and others were playing on this ground, which was not even a standard ground.Q: How did cricket manage to grow over the years despite the conflict and turmoil?A: Players like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman inspire people and they play in different franchises around the world.This has led to Afghans watching cricket on TV now, which was not possible earlier. These stars have inspired people, and made them believe, that if they work hard and play cricket, they are capable of becoming superstars.This second generation of Afghan players have inspired a lot of people and because of them there has been a lot of investment in the sport.It has prompted media interest in the game and we have cricket reporters, while we did not have a single one in Afghanistan before 2000. Now, you can find dozens of journalists who are talking, and writing, about cricket.Local TV channels are broadcasting the domestic Ghazi Amanullah Khan tournament live. So, we have people watching the World Cup and a domestic tournament.Q: There is a ban on music, films, etc in Afghanistan. How is live cricket shown on TV?A: Firstly, the Afghanistan Cricket Board is not part of the Taliban government. And secondly, the people who are leading the board are not Taliban. The chairman of Afghanistan Cricket board is a former Afghanistan player and the coaches are not Taliban.Cricket in Afghanistan does not belong to any political party. It belongs to every Afghan — Talib, non-Talib or anyone else.The cricket board is an independent board functioning under the International Cricket Council. That’s why they are free to do anything they want for the development of cricket.Taliban and other political parties know that if they get involved in cricket, there will be strong opposition from Afghans, ICC and neighbouring countries, like India and Pakistan. medium105093036Q: How has cricket managed to bridge differences between the various tribes and people in Afghanistan?A: Cricket is the only sport that you will find in all 34 provinces of the country. There are over 6,000 registered cricket clubs and you can find them in Panjshir, Herat, Mazar and Bamyan. People in the country believe that Afghans are doing really good and have a natural talent for the game.For example, Rashid Khan has never trained in any professional cricket academy. He has learnt how to bowl the googly and wrong one on his own.You can find hundreds of players like Rashid and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Having this kind of talent helps you to promote and develop the game in the country.The game has played a key role in uniting Afghanistan and is giving hope to many Afghans. People are able to set aside their support for personal tribes, and instead, are backing the national team wholeheartedly. The players also respect all tribes.In some parts of the country, cricket is more popular than others. For example, in the team, we have good players from south and east, but no one from Herat. This will hopefully change in the years to come. medium nocaptionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asvafqk_P3E&featureQ: The Taliban over time has also cheered for the team’s success. But in the current environment, how difficult is it for players?A: There are two sets of players. One that does not live in Afghanistan like Rashid and Gurbaz, and are busy playing international leagues. They have family back home.So when I talk to them, they say they have no problem with the current government or situation. They have huge fans within the Taliban.Last year, an Afghan player told me that during Eid, a dozen Taliban came to his house to click selfies and see him. All they wanted to say was that he had played well. In my book [Three Century: Cricket History in the World and Afghanistan], there is a story about Karim Khan Sadiq, an ex-player. There was a three-day ceasefire and Sadiq went to an area held by the Taliban. Taliban fighters saw him and started celebrating by firing in the air. One of the fighters said that he was a big fan, and had been following his games.Even when Afghanistan was a republic, I was writing an article and contacted the Taliban for a comment on cricket. A spokesperson said that "we are at war, but we have no problem with cricket".There is a love for the game, especially among the younger generation of Taliban. medium105092348 Q: Where does the team function from?A: The players who are based in Afghanistan work out of Afghanistan, while those who are based out of Dubai function from there.The chairman and other high-ranking officials are working out of Kabul. The home ground is in the UAE for international games.They have an international ground in Kabul and do their practice sessions and other training there. medium105092158Q: Andrew Moles who coached Afghanistan in the past described the experience as acting in a war movie. Have things changed?A: I remember that there was a suicide attack during a domestic cricket match in Kabul but it did not stop people from going for the match. They said "we do not care about any suicide attack, we just want to watch cricket and enjoy the game".Cricket is the only hope, and the only thing that brings smiles to their faces. It is more than a game in Afghanistan, to be honest.You cannot imagine what happens when Afghanistan wins matches. Recently, Afghanistan beat Pakistan in the World Cup and people were enjoying themselves in the streets.I received videos from different parts of the country where people were dancing, they were playing music, and they did not sleep. All of this happened during Taliban rule.Whether there is war, or there is peace, cricket will be on in Afghanistan and people will come to watch and support.