In the recent past, Afghanistan have become the second favourite team of cricket fans (assuming their respective countries are the first) in international tournaments. If you asked them before the start of the T20 World Cup, “If not your country, which team would you like to see win?”, most would have answered, “Afghanistan” (at other times, and for different reasons, New Zealand or Sri Lanka have been second favourites). And this is not just because of Afghanistan’s recent history of war and terror and human disasters — which are reason enough — but for the brand of joyful cricket and unexpected narratives they bring to the field of play too.
And for the sheer spirit and togetherness in the team which now has some world class performers. Thrill of participation This support is in no way patronising, nor does it come from a position of superiority. There has always been, in this team, the palpable thrill of participation, and the augury of great possibilities, all communicated to the viewers unselfconsciously.
Now they have two bowlers in the world’s Top 10 and a batter in the Top 15 as they prepare to take on South Africa in the semifinal of a World Cup. It is the most romantic cricket story of our times. The three other semifinalists are the only teams in the top 10 that Afghanistan have not beaten yet.
But that hardly matters. This World Cup is already theirs in a bigger sense. “Cricket is the only source of happiness back home,” skipper Rashid Khan has.
