The expansion of the Afghanistan cricket group in worldwide codecs is just not solely noteworthy but in addition inspiring. Their victories towards the heavyweights, together with South Africa, England, and Pakistan, have positioned them in a really commendable place within the cricketing world.
Regardless of a long time of violence and turmoil, the Afghanistan cricket group stands as a beacon of hope for the nation and performs an aspirational position for its residents. Afghanistan are ranked 10th and ninth within the ICC Males’s T20 and ODI rankings, respectively.
Afghanistan performed their first one-day worldwide towards Scotland within the 2009 World Cup Qualifier, adopted by their debut T20 worldwide match towards Eire in 2010.
Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi at present maintain the third and eighth positions, respectively, within the ICC Males’s T20 bowling rankings. In the meantime, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is ranked thirteenth within the males’s T20 batting rankings.
Mohammad Nabi tops the listing of males’s ODI all-rounder rankings and holds the sixth place within the males’s T20 all-rounder rankings.
Afghanistan’s Latest Prime Performances
1) A Memorable 2023 ODI World Cup
Afghanistan’s 69-run win towards England on the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi was not solely a recreation to recollect but in addition showcased distinctive group effort by the previous. The underdogs set a goal of 285 runs, because of a half-century by Ikram Alikhil and a stable 80 from opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Within the second half of the match, Afghani spinners set the pitch ablaze as Mujeeb Ur Rahman took Joe Root’s wicket for mere 11 runs, whereas Mohammad Nabi dismissed Dawid Malan for 32. Rashid Khan claimed the wickets of Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid along with his leg spin.
Afghanistan’s most celebrated triumph got here towards Pakistan in Chennai. On this essential match, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s group efficiently chased down 283 runs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran’s sturdy opening partnership helped them rating 130 runs in 21.1 overs. Rahmat Shah contributed 77 runs, whereas Shahidi added 48 and led their group to an eight-wicket victory.
Though Afghanistan did not enter the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-finals, their efficiency towards Australia was appreciated by the cricket fraternity. After setting a goal of 291 runs, Afghanistan restricted Australia at 917. However Glenn Maxwell’s swashbuckling double century took the Kangaroos over the road, ending the Afghan marketing campaign.
2) Reaching T20 World Cup 2024 Semis
The Rashid Khan-led group entered their first ever semi-finals of any main ICC event they performed to this point. They defeated Bangladesh by eight runs and clinched their slot within the semis. Followers in Afghanistan gathered on the streets to have a good time their victory and had been additionally joined by the ruling Taliban.
The group additionally scripted historical past by successful towards Australia within the tremendous eight by scoring 148 runs and managing to wash bowl Aussies at 127 runs in 19.2 overs.
3) First Ever ODI Collection Win In opposition to South Africa
In September 2024, Afghanistan created historical past after claiming their first ever sequence victory towards South Africa. They trounced South Africa by 177-runs within the second match, a report win by the very best margin for the group, surpassing their 154-run win over Zimbabwe on the similar venue in 2018.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan performed a major position within the group’s win, with Gurbaz smashing his seventh century—essentially the most by any Afghani batter within the format.
Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi chipped away three top-order wickets and restricted the Proteas to 106. This complete was simply chased by Afghanistan in simply 26 overs with six wickets in hand.
India’s Contribution To Afghanistan Cricket
The Afghanistan group’s fairytale rise in cricket’s sphere of affect is backed by India, which helped them kind a powerful basis for his or her success.
Afghanistan signed Amul as their principal sponsor for the 2023 ODI World Cup, with the main dairy model showing on Afghan gamers’ jerseys and taking part in kits.
In 2018, India hosted Afghanistan’s inaugural check match in Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The BCCI additionally offered monetary help and a $1 million grant to develop the Kandahar cricket stadium in Afghanistan.
The Indian Premier League, organised by the Board of Management for Cricket in India, has offered a powerful platform for the Afghanis to enhance their video games, earn cash, and encourage the budding cricketers of their war-torn nation.
Afghanis additionally play in different T20 leagues just like the Large Bash League, Pakistan Tremendous League and Caribbean Premier League the place they expertise the sport in several situations and acquire unprecedented worldwide publicity.
Prior to now, former Indian gamers like Lalchand Rajput, Manoj Prabhakar, and Ajay Jadeja have educated the Afghanistan group. Ajay Jadeja was additionally their mentor in the course of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Moreover, in 2015, the BCCI offered the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports activities Complicated in Better Noida to Afghanistan as a brief house floor. One other floor was offered to them in Dehradun.
Regardless of a number of obstacles, reminiscent of political instability and poor taking part in infrastructure, Afghan gamers’ resilience and willpower have helped them make a reputation for themselves within the gentleman’s sport, and the world is taking discover.
. Learn extra on Sports activities by NDTV Revenue.
