Human Spirit

Afghanistan’s cricketers have given their war-ravaged citizens something to cheer about after they qualified to play in the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies in May. It was a dream come true for these talented bunch of lads who narrowly missed out playing in next year’s 50-over World Cup to be held in 
the subcontinent.

Their achievement is monumental because Afghanistan seems to be a nation eternally plagued by war and it is a small wonder that the sport exists at all. It is a fact that they don’t have regular international competition, no training facilities and only a single ground to play matches. How they managed to overcome these odds and come out trumps is a classic example of human spirit triumphing in the face of adversity.

Sports without exception has always been a great leveller. There were political undertones when they took on the US in a crucial match in the qualifying tournament held in the UAE. But their cricketers kept their focus on the playing field to enter the knockout phase of the event and secured their historic berth in the World Cup by defeating the host nation. “I feel absolutely amazing and it is a dream come true to qualify for the World Twenty20. It is undoubtedly the biggest day in my cricketing life. All over the world the people of Afghanistan will be happy today and I am very proud to be able to play for my country and bring so much happiness to our supporters,” said Hamid Hassan their 
star performer.

Riding on the crest of a wave that carried them through to the World Twenty20, Afghanistan finished the qualifying tournament in style cantering to victory over Ireland in the final by 
eight wickets.

Indeed Afghanistan has progressed by leaps and bounds in the past one and a half year climbing to 15th position in the one-day 
international rankings.

Afghanistan has always been associated as a country at war by the world. But now the world should know that they are a proud nation, which produces talented sportsmen who are ready to take on the best in cricket’s Twenty20 showpiece in the Caribbean