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Summary Afghanistan will face Australia in one-day international in Dubai on Saturday.
Afghanistan takes another big step toward cricketing respect on Saturday when it plays Australia in a one-day international, only the second time the team of mostly war refugees has faced a test-playing nation.The violence-wracked country qualified this year for its second consecutive Twenty20 World Cup, but isnt expected to beat Australia. Even so, coach Kabir Khan said playing well will give the team confidence ahead of the T20 tournament in Sri Lanka in September and show that it has moved beyond simply being a feel-good story for the sport. He also hopes it will inspire a younger generation to take up the sport.Afghanistan played its first ODI against a test nation earlier this year when it faced Pakistan, losing by seven wickets.The Australia match is a day where Afghan cricket can go a step higher than where we are, Khan told The Associated Press. Some of the players have seen Australia on TV and they are stars. Now they will get a chance to play against them.Made up of players who learned the game in Pakistan refugee camps, Afghanistan has gone from the World Cricket League Division 5 in 2008 to playing its first ODI this year against a test playing team, Pakistan.The teams success has helped cricket replace football as the national sport, and even the Taliban have approved cricket where frequent breaks mean the sport doesnt interfere with prayer times in the Muslim nation.Cricket clubs have sprung up across the country and the government is building new grounds in order to keep up with the growing demand from 70,000 club cricketers. A new crop of players are also showing potential, with the under-19 team set to play Sri Lanka for ninth place at the under-19 World Cup on Friday. Two years ago, the team finished 16th.Any countrys future depends on its youngsters and the quality of its youngsters, Khan said, adding that several players from that team including skipper Javed Ahmadi have been included in its World Cup team.The way this team has performed for last seven or eight years, we need a very good strong backup otherwise we will lose that place. A lot of teams at this stage have lost their place ... We have loads of examples of that in world cricket like Kenya going down, Bermuda going down.Acting Australia coach Steve Rixon said his team was glad to do its part to bolster the prospects of Afghanistan cricket. But he said Australia was there to win and show why it once was the No. 1-ranked ODI team in the world. It currently sits fourth.Afghanistan has come in as a minor contender but they are there and they are competing at the top level, Rixon said.We have to come in with every ounce of respect for the opposition, he said. I like the idea that little minor nations are getting a chance to come in and play against the bigger boys. I think that is great for cricket.Vice captain David Warner said it would be a mistake to take a team like Afghanistan lightly.They are the type of people that could bring anything to the table and we are looking forward to that challenge, Warner said.Warner said the biggest hurdle is coping with spin bowling. Afghanistan has several quality spin bowlers including all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari. Its top fast bowler Hamid Hassan is out injured but expected to be back for the World Cup.
