Key Highlights :
The cricketing world was in awe on Thursday when Afghanistan took on Australia in the World Cup. Despite being the underdogs, the Afghanis put up a brave fight, only to be defeated in the end. But this was much more than just a game of cricket for the people of Afghanistan. It was a symbol of hope and resilience in a war-torn country.
For the Afghanis, cricket is more than just a game. It is a source of joy and pride in a country that has seen more than its fair share of suffering and strife. As one of the players told me, “Every time we win a match, it is the only happiness our country feels.”
Amul's sponsorship of the Afghan cricket team gave me a ringside view of a bunch of heroes recovering from the loss of a game they should easily have won. The room was quiet, 15 men lost in their own thoughts, an elephant in the room, of what might have been a collective mourning almost.
The Afghanis had already made their mark in the tournament, having defeated three former World Cup winners, Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka, and were now a real contender on the world stage. But, the loss to Australia was a bitter pill to swallow.
Team mentor, Ajay Jadeja, admitted that hindsight is easy, when asked if there was anything the Afghanis could have done differently while bowling to Glenn Maxwell. But, inexperience may have kicked in, as the Afghanis failed to deliver the killer blow when they were in a dominant position.
The loss to Australia was a huge disappointment, but it should not detract from the huge strides the Afghanis have made in a short space of time. Jadeja is confident that the team will only get better, and that in a few years they will reach their full potential.
The Afghanis have already made their presence felt in the cricketing world, with players like Rahmats and Rashids being idolised on the streets of Kabul. Cricket has become part of the folklore in Afghanistan, and the players have become symbols of hope and resilience in a country that has known nothing but war and destruction.
The Afghanis have come a long way, but they have only just begun to open their arms. One game-changing innings cannot alter the course of their journey, and it is important to remember that this is much more than just a game of cricket. It is a story of courage and determination, of a people who have refused to be beaten by the odds.
Every Azmatullah Ormazai has a story to tell, of growing up with bombs going off all around him. The Afghanis have climbed halfway up the mountain, and it is only a matter of time before they reach the summit. This is the true spirit of Afghanistan – a spirit of courage and resilience that will be remembered for generations to come.