Afghanistan’s Strong Showing Ignites World Cup Amid Uncertainty Over The Country’s Women Cricketers

It was a night of revelry almost unimaginable in Kabul since the Taliban’s bloody takeover of Afghanistan two years ago.

After Afghanistan’s eight-wicket upset of bitter rival Pakistan at the cricket World Cup, fireworks lit up the skies and people danced in the streets in scenes of jubilation contrasting to the grim tale of despair in everyday life in the war-torn country.

Those overwhelming emotions bubbling over – public euphoria is normally forbidden under the hardline Islamists – was testament of the beloved Afghanistan men’s cricket team’s magnetic hold over their compatriots.

Afghanistan have been one of the best stories of a much maligned World Cup with the protracted group stage format stuffed with one-sided snoozers. With their innate cavalier style of play, Afghanistan have ignited the tournament and given themselves an outside chance of a shock semi-final berth after earlier beating defending champions England.

Those hopes will largely rest on how they fare against Sri Lanka, who are also locked on two wins from five games, on Monday in Pune. Afghanistan’s team has always been built on their eclectic attack with quick Naveen-ul-Haq menacing with pace, while their spinners Rashid Khan and teenager Noor Ahmad are particularly dangerous in the South Asian conditions.

Their free-wheeling batting has long been the weak link and often succumbed to disciplined bowling from the world’s best teams. But on this occasion against Pakistan, Afghanistan batted maturely with Ibrahim Zadran playing the type of resolute knock that was once unexpected of this team that only became a Full Member – granted exclusively to just 12 countries – in 2017.

It was made even sweeter for Afghanistan given Pakistan is a political foe, but their neighbor helped stir the country’s love for the bat and ball British Commonwealth sport. Cricket’s journey towards becoming Afghanistan’s most popular sport started in the 1990s through players returning home from refugee camps in Pakistan.

Afghanistan had a rapid rise since gaining membership of the International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, in 2001 just a year after the Taliban lifted a ban on cricket.

While the men’s team has become a symbol of pride for the nation, developing women’s cricket in conservative terrain proved difficult. Slow steps had been made, leading to central contracts for 25 women players, but the Taliban’s return has essentially put an end to women’s cricket.

Fearing their safety, female cricketers sought refuge overseas with most of the team fleeing to Australia. The situation triggered a political storm and debate raged over whether Afghanistan’s pivotal Full membership status – which grants more funds and power on the ICC board – should be revoked. Sanctioning would effectively ban Afghanistan men’s team – the sport’s fairytale story – from playing.

As I first reported in July, Afghanistan will not be sanctioned with the ICC instead hoping it can help the country’s cricket board in developing opportunities for men’s and women’s cricket.

But restarting women’s cricket, as the Taliban marginalizes women out of public life, appears forlorn any time soon.

Amid that grim backdrop, as opinion remains divided over whether sanctioning should have been enforced, the Afghanistan men’s team continues to play a captivating brand of cricket bringing cheer to residents of Kabul and beyond.