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Atia Abawi, Kabul Correspondent
KABUL, Afghanistan - After two-years in Afghanistan I still have no clue how cricket is played. But what I do know is how much this game, which dates back to 16th century England and is played throughout the former British colonies, means to Afghans.
The Afghan cricket team has brought a sense of nationalism and pride that the government and international community couldn’t achieve in a nation divided by ethnicities, tribes and rivalries.
Khyber Shinwari, a producer for NBC News in Afghanistan, grew up in Peshawar, Pakistan – like many Afghans who fled the Soviet fighting.
And that’s where his love for Cricket began.
During the Taliban regime from 1996-2001 cricket and most sports were banned, deemed un-Islamic, in Afghanistan. But some of the Talibs themselves loved the sport too much to give it up completely. They gave Khyber and his buddies in Peshawar written permission to come to the border and play a local Afghan team.
“Even the Taliban came to watch the game,” Khyber remembered.
Khyber says he wasn’t scared of the Taliban but some of his Pakistani teammates were and it affected their game. In the end they lost to the local Afghan team but both sides had a day to remember.
Spark of nationalism
Another memorable moment came on Thursday when Afghanistan beat Pakistan during The Asia Cup.
Bringing another spark of nationalism after beating a country who is a rival in so many ways – reaching beyond the cricket pitch.
The game was so symbolic here in Afghanistan that President Hamid Karzai promised each player a new car if they defeated the Pakistani team.
But for Khyber it simply comes down to the sport.
“Pakistan is an international team and a very strong team, and we beat a strong team!”
Although Khyber still has ties to Pakistan he is frank on why he has no conflict of interest in whom to support.
“Because I’m Afghan, I should support my country,” he said.
Afghanistan played Bangladesh in The Asia Cup final on Friday, and Khyber is trying his best to explain to me what is going on.
“This is good, that’s four runs,” he says excitedly after the Afghan player hit the ball far out in the field.
His excitement reminds me of all the Afghan faces I saw in the documentary, ‘Out of the Ashes’.
The movie shows how the Afghan cricket team went from playing on the dirt grounds of the refugee camps in Pakistan to becoming champions on the world stage.
“I’m very proud of the Afghan team and all of Afghanistan should be proud of the Afghan team,” Khyber told me.
Afghanistan ended up losing to Bangladesh. But there is no doubt the team will still be greeted at Kabul airport with a heroes' welcome lining the streets of the country’s capital.
I still don’t know much about how cricket is played but maybe one day I can teach Khyber about Baseball. I’m sure he will be a better learner than I was.
Leave a Comment:
One thing for sure, if they ever formed a national team, they'd have to play their test and limited overs matches in someone else's country. They have no proper cricket grounds, their pitches are goat tracks and teams from other nations would refuse to go.
Have you heard of a game, especially cricket, uniting an artificial nation, full of fanatical Muslims, tribe lords and other basket case extremists, like Afghanistan?
That is " IGNORANCE " speaking Jonathan. Read my comment below. Everyone is not the same so please stop this negative generalization.
ht: Ignorant find others' comments as ignorant. Has cricket made much difference to the conditions in Pakistan? Instead Pak's cricket team has spoiled the cricket's name and people look to cricket matches as being fixed due to some Paki mafia/bookie! So what is the big deal about new entrant to the game: Afghanistan?
I dont think baseball started at wrigley field the 1st basket in basketball was a peach basket
Leonard has that right. Can you imagine trying to play American football while wondering if some of the 'fans' were planning to hose down the players with AK-47s? Brr.
Would that be considered a sticky wicket?
They'll be targeted by the Taliban, just like the Paki team was.
It will be worse as the conditions in Afghanistan are controlled by Pakistan and radical elements of different varieties in Afghanistan.
the Taliban liked the game, so they will probably leave them alone on the day of the games, the next day though....
I keep seeing an image of the Puritans with automatic weapons and explosives, and am thankful that the Founding Fathers, whatever their personal beliefs, and the fact that they based many of our laws on religious tenets, refused to establish a state religion. In the centuries since they did their work, there have been many changes they could not have foreseen, but they got this one spot on.
Amen to that, Terry. Whenever religion and government mix the result is a god-awful mess. Our Founding Fathers were prescient in that regard. Let people do whatever they want with their Sunday mornings, just as long as they don't try to force their nutty ideas on the rest of us.
Most of the nations based on religion have been disasters. More the fanatical they are faster their decline and ruin! Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran are some of the examples going through these process.
Hell... I have an American cricket team in my garage..they hate the cold so sneek in somehow..and boy can they jump..one jumped right into my bathrooms sink from the floor.
The fact that Afghan team was able to beat Pakistani cricket team, the very best in the world, in itself is a great achievement for a novice team.
It was far from Pakistan's #1 team that was at this tournament. This tournament is pretty low on the cricket pecking order.
Although Afhganistan won the silver medal at the Asian games, it is not that a great acheivement as mentioned in the article, the top 4 Asian teams- India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh sent second and third string teams to the Asian games. Well done Afghanistan, but this article exaggerates their achievement. i hate to be cynical but thats da truth, well done Afghanisthan anyways.
Hello
India and austrilia and england and some other country should let them win few games that will at least get them going.
Hello
let them win some big game and dont discourage them. They will do fine. specialy India should concider this. Afghanistan is ally of india not pakistan.
I have no idea how cricket is played. As for crickets, I squish 'em. If this is something the Taliban can ignore, good. But knowing how the Muslim mind works and how the different sects kill each other, I don't see much good coming out of it.
countrygirl every human mind works the same on a team sport. i recommend u to play in a team sport and verify the fact for urself it doesnt matter if ur a muslim , jew , athiest, differently abled or blind .
AMEN to that comment prgress...
Guess there are no limits to ignorance. Religion has no place in a team sport
In Cricket standards around the world, Pakistan is a mediocre team in best of times, however, it does have a place on the world stage. If Afghanistan team beats Pakistan in a few more games...it will most definitely get world attention and respect especially in India, England, New Zealand and such. Way to go Afghanistan.
This was not the Asia Cup. This event was part of the Asian Games which is basically an Asian Olympics. The Asia Cup is a much more prestigious cricket tournament and Afghanistan would have no shot winning there at the present time.
During the Taliban regime from 1996-2001 cricket and most sports were banned, deemed un-Islamic, in Afghanistan. But some of the Talibs themselves loved the sport too much to give it up completely.
Some fkd up people.
i am an indian who grewp up in a small town and played tournaments on river beds and without watching any cricket game on tv and i know how difficult is to master the game without proper pitch and infrastructure. when u play on worst pitch like riverbed the balls will hit ur groin and the next ball hits the crack on the floor and will hit ur head and u could end up dead if it is high speed delivery and i think afghans would also have learnt the game in those bad conditions without access to proper pitch and playgrounds and this fact makes their progress in asian games even more commendable. i have followed cricket from 90s and i have seen many rookie teams play and if there is one rookie team which has grit and ability and quick learning skills it is the afghan team. with better infrastructure and training they can move forward to the next step. cricket is a team sport and ppl here rubbing down abt factions in comments have no idea how team sport gels a country and people and probably they have never been a team player i guess.
i am an indian who grewp up in a small town and played tournaments on river beds and without watching any cricket game on tv and i know how difficult is to master the game without proper pitch and infrastructure. when u play on worst pitch like riverbed the balls will hit ur groin and the next ball hits the crack on the floor and will hit ur head and u could end up dead if it is high speed delivery and i think afghans would also have learnt the game in those bad conditions without access to proper pitch and playgrounds and this fact makes their progress in asian games even more commendable. i have followed cricket from 90s and i have seen many rookie teams play and if there is one rookie team which has grit and ability and quick learning skills it is the afghan team. with better infrastructure and training they can move forward to the next step. cricket is a team sport and ppl here rubbing down abt factions in comments have no idea how team sport gels a country and people and probably they have never been a team player i guess.
Glad to see the media actually reporting on something good in and with Afghanistan. I don't have a clue in hell about what the game of Cricket is like, but I am glad for those who play on the Afghan team : )
We need more " positive bloggers " encouraging this team. Perhaps, just like all of us these guys are reading this also and getting encouraged...
GREAT FIRST STEPS Afghan Team :-) :-)
i am an indian who grewp up in a small town and played tournaments on river beds and without watching any cricket game on tv and i know how difficult is to master the game without proper pitch and infrastructure. when u play on worst pitch like riverbed the balls will hit ur groin and the next ball hits the crack on the floor and will hit ur head and u could end up dead if it is high speed delivery and i think afghans would also have learnt the game in those bad conditions without access to proper pitch and playgrounds and this fact makes their progress in asian games even more commendable. i have followed cricket from 90s and i have seen many rookie teams play and if there is one rookie team which has grit and ability and quick learning skills it is the afghan team. with better infrastructure and training they can move forward to the next step. cricket is a team sport and ppl here rubbing down abt factions in comments have no idea how team sport gels a country and people and probably they have never been a team player i guess.
p.s : india did not send any team to the asian games. fact many ppl are missing in early comments. personally i feel they should have
To all you people generalizing all Afghans as fanatical and radical warlords...try to understand that as a country and people, anyone of age 31 " TODAY " does not know any better than being a war torn country. Russia invaded Afghanistan 31 years ago " today ". After they left Taliban took over. Now US Troops are there... Just think about that before boxing everyone in one slot with your ignorance.
If Afghanistan Cricket team can help unite this nation then we in the so called civilized world should support and encourage them. Help them with better pitches and training and earn a place on the world stage.
Way to go Afghan team. Next time beat India or Australia or England. Make your mark... :-) :-)
Like music, sports hits a chord that is beyond politics and religion. Congratulations to all teams that played -- whatever their skill level -- and championed their sport.
I like the idea of cricket, because even if everone gets upset with each other they can use sticks instead of guns and maybe there won't be as much recovery time. Whatever it takes to unite this world is what we ALL need to be looking for. War is not the answer and I would rather see a few bruises than death and dismemberment.... If cricket does't work, then play grasshopper, frog or yatzee............and maybe they can pray to their whomever, before they play!!!