Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan hits a six during the men’s T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on June 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Packed with thousands of frenzied fans, the streets in Afghanistan were buzzing with unbridled joy after the Rashid Khan-led side marched into the T20 World Cup semifinals, taking down some of international cricket’s bigwigs along the way.

The eight-run win over Bangladesh in a rain-truncated Super 8 match helped the Afghans join India, England and South Africa in the last-four stage. In the process, former champions Australia, who have repeatedly refused to host Afghanistan due to the Taliban rule here, were knocked out.

Afghanistan had earlier humbled New Zealand in the league stage and beaten Australia in a Super 8 clash some days back.

The moment Mustafizur Rehman was trapped leg before by Naveen-ul-Haq, the streets in Khost, Paktia and Kabul began to overflow with fans to celebrate the historic day.

World sings Afghanistan’s praise

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) posted pictures from these cities on X. “Look, what this success means to us!” posted ACB, attaching pictures from Kabul and Jalalabad.

Another post showed thousands of fans celebrating on the roads, in the balconies of their homes and on the rooftops of shops.

“They know how to celebrate #AfghanAtalan’s heroics at the #T20WorldCup!,” read the caption.

Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar lauded the strong determination of the Afghan side.

“Afghanistan, your road to the semi-finals has been incredible, overcoming the likes of New Zealand and Australia. Today’s win is a testament to your hard work & determination. So proud of your progress. Keep it up!,” Tendulkar posted on X.

Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody congratulated the winners.

“Wow what a game full of drama of all sorts and that is an understatement! Congratulations to @ACBofficials a special achievement,” Moody posted.

Explosive opener of his time, Virender Sehwag was also effusive in his praise for Rashid and his men.

“Wow, Afghanistan. What an effort. Beating New Zealand, beating Australia and making the semi- finals of a World Cup. This is what progress is. Congratulations.”

Almost all IPL teams congratulated the team and former India cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina and S Badrinath also praised the team for being bigger than its circumstances.

“Absolutely fantastic scenes from the park! What a win @ACBofficials. Nail-biting right to the end! Emotions soaring high as the Pathans enter the semis for the first time ever! Match winning performance by #NaveenUlHaq. Cricket at its best,” wrote Yuvraj on X.

“Afghanistan enters the Semi-Finals! Shining through the tournament with incredible skills and determination. What a journey it has been so far for them—keep the momentum going, boys!,” posted Raina.

“Afghanistan deserved a semifinal spot and they have earned it,” wrote Badrinath.

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Kamran Akmal acknowledged the brilliant bowling effort of Rashid and Naveen-ul Haq who shared eight wickets between them.

“Congratulations Afghanistan for reaching to semi final..This is brilliant cricket what an achievement.Excellent bowling @rashidkhan_19 @imnaveenulhaq,” Akmal posted.

Cricket has surged in popularity inside Afghanistan in recent years, fuelled by triumphs over bigger nations on the international stage. File.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Afghanistan cricket bosses on March 20 expressed disappointment that Australia had scrapped a men’s T20 series because of deteriorating women’s rights in the Taliban-ruled country and called for “politics-free cricket”.

Cricket Australia said it had received advice “that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse” and postponed the three-match series scheduled in August, likely to have been hosted by the UAE.

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expresses disappointment over Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone yet another bilateral series against Afghanistan and reiterates its stance on neutral and politics-free cricket across the globe,” said a statement.

The decision, announced Tuesday, was the third time since 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, that Australia have refused to play Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.

Cricket has surged in popularity inside Afghanistan in recent years, fuelled by triumphs over bigger nations on the international stage.

But under the Taliban government’s brand of Islamic rule, women are effectively barred from the game, as part of a raft of restrictions on women in Afghanistan the United Nations has labelled “gender apartheid”.

The ACB urged the Australian government “not to impose its policies on cricket boards” and “focus on supporting the development of cricket”.

“ACB advocates for keeping cricket distinct from political influence, considering the game’s significance in Afghanistan and its connection to the happiness and joy of the Afghan nation,” the board said.

Before the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s cricket board was slowly making progress growing the game among women — even contracting a small number of semi-professional players in 2020. Most of those eventually fled to Australia.

Afghanistan player Rahmanullah Gurbaz and coach Jonathan Trott during a practice session an ODI World Cup 2023 match.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Afghanistan may have defeated three former World Cup champions so far in the tournament. It may have had its best World Cup outing already. While taking pride in his unit’s achievement, head coach Jonathan Trott has already set an in-form batting group its next target, of scoring a hundred.

“Nobody has got a hundred so far yet, so that’s the next challenge. Someone accepts responsibility and batting for a longer period of time and make sure we get a hundred,” Trott said after Afghanistan thumped Sri Lanka by seven wickets on Monday.

“You see, a lot of hundreds are scored in the tournament. That’s the next frontier, the next barrier. Gurbaz has scored a few hundreds recently, you know Ibrahim has. The middle order is in form, 3-4-5-6, as well. That’s the next challenge and I have got no doubt that the players will be able to in the future. Hopefully it starts with the next game.”

For the second time in succession, Afghanistan’s batters timed the chase to perfection. Trott revealed that breaking down the target on a whiteboard in the dug-out is being employed to ease out the pressure of a chase.

There is a bit more focus with regards to breaking it down into smaller targets, for sometimes you know sitting out in Pakistan getting chasing 280 and starting on nought, it’s a long way,” Trott said.

“If you break it down, that seems a lot more manageable, so those sort of little things, motivating the players and keeping them in touch with where we want to be. And that’s also a feel-good fact, if you know you are on the right track, it’s also a nice feeling as well.”