Rise of Afghans in cricket and role of Pakistan in making them
Pakistanis undoubtedly are happy to see their Afghan brothers standing on their feet.
(Web Desk) – Afghanistan cricket team is an emerging team that does possess talent when it comes to battling, bowling, and fielding. Players from the war-torn country Afghanistan resisted war and rose to the occasions. The team operates under Afghanistan Cricket Federation (ACF) which was established in 1995. International Cricket Council (ICC), the cricket parenting body, granted it full membership on 2001. From that year, the team started to mark good name in the world of cricket. The team gained membership of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003. Most of Afghani cricketers learnt the ins and outs of cricket in the refugees’ camps in Pakistan.
ALSO READ: Afghanistan fire warning to World Cup teams
Mohammad Nabi in a recent statement explored everything. "We were refugees in Peshawar from 1994-96 during the Civil War. We started going to school there. We played our cricket there because everyone was playing cricket in school and on streets. That’s how I fell in love with cricket."
Major Afghani players who played in Pakistan
Rashid Khan for instance played cricket in Pakistan and was selected to play for Quetta Gladiators in Pakistan Super League (PSL). He even had a Pakistani identity card.
Mohammad Nabi, another Afghan player, had also played for Quetta Gladiators. His family migrated from Afghanistan during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
Karim Sadiq also played in Pakistan.
Asghar Afghan the current captain of Afghanistan cricket team spent time in Pakistan.
Gulbadin Naib, a prominent player of Afghanistan team, was born in Peshawar and played cricket extensively. He made his international debut in Afghanistan Cricket team.
Mohammad Nabi in a recent statement explored everything. "We were refugees in Peshawar from 1994-96 during the Civil War. We started going to school there. We played our cricket there because everyone was playing cricket in school and on streets. That’s how I fell in love with cricket."
Pakistan formed an agreement with Afghanistan in 2013 to train its cricketers. For preparing 2015 World Cup the entire Pakistani team was prepared in Pakistan. PCB whole-heartedly trained them.
Undue resentment against Pakistan
Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO Shafiq Stanikzai has, at multiple times, stated his resentment against Pakistan. He said India helped Afghanistan more than Pakistan. "BCCI’s role has really been immense. Since we moved to India the team has done well. The conditions in India are suiting the team quite well. The support we receive from BCCI has been instrumental," Stanikzai said. He even said every player residing in Pakistan should come to Afghanistan or they are going to pay a price just like Afghanistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad who played for Pakistani cricket club in Peshawar. He had to pay $4,400 as a fine.
Pakistanis undoubtedly are happy to see their Afghan brothers standing on their feet. But they want them to remember the services Pakistani club, coaches and players rendered to make the independent in the world of cricket. Recent performance of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2018 is quite splendid. Pakistani services are helping them tackling pressurized situations on field.
Pakistanis are quite jubilant
Pakistanis undoubtedly are happy to see their Afghan brothers standing on their feet. But they want them to remember the services Pakistani club, coaches and players rendered to make the independent in the world of cricket. Recent performance of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2018 is quite splendid. Pakistani services are helping them tackling pressurized situations on field.
ALSO READ: Afghanistan fire warning to World Cup teams
Afghanistan gave tough time to Pakistan when scored 257 runs with the loss of 6 wickets while Pakistan had to struggle a lot to achieve that target. They achieved the target in the last over. In another match against India, which proved more crucial for the team, they levelled the score. Afghanistan made 252 runs with the loss of eight wickets while India got all out scoring the same runs; thus ending the match on tie.
