Mohammad Nabi in action© X (Twitter)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a cracking century and Azmatullah Omarzai showed allround skills on Monday to give Afghanistan a five wicket victory in the third ODI and a series win over Bangladesh. Omarzai took four wickets before hitting an undefeated 77-ball 70 and Opener Gurbaz hit a 120-ball 101 as Afghanistan chased down a 245-run target in 48.2 overs in Sharjah. Bangladesh were lifted to 244-8 by Mohammad Mahmudullah, run out off the last ball of the innings for run-a-ball 98, and a solid 66 by stand-in skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

The victory gave Afghanistan a 2-1 win in the series in Sharjah. Afghanistan won the first match by 92 runs while Bangladesh took the second by 68 runs.

The series win is Afghanistan’s third successive this year, having also beaten Ireland (2-0) and South Africa (2-1) following their wins over England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in last year’s World Cup in India.

Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman (2-50) and Nahid Rana (2-40) had jolted Afghanistan to 84-3 before Gurbaz and Omarzai added 100 for the fourth wicket.

Gurbaz, who hit seven sixes and five boundaries in his eighth ODI century, fell in the 39th over with 61 needed as Bangladesh pressed. 

Omarzai hit five sixes and three boundaries added 58 runs with Mohammad Nabi (27-ball 34) to avoid any turnaround, hitting the winning six.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said he was proud of his team.

“I am very happy as a captain,” said Shahidi. “When we lost the toss we were a bit worried because it’s tough to bat second in Sharjah but our batters did very well.”

Miraz praised Afghanistan

“I think credit goes to Afghanistan the way they played in this series,” said Miraz. “Gurbaz and Omarzai did very well and we couldn’t get wickets to win the match.”

Earlier, Bangladesh, without injured skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, were given a sound 53-run start by Soumya Sarkar (24) and Tanzid Hasan (19) before four wickets fell in for 19 runs in 38 balls.

Mahmudullah and Miraz repaired the innings with a 155-run fifth wicket stand as they blunted Afghanistan spinners, who managed just two wickets between them.

Miraz became one of Omarzai’s victim in the 46th over but Mahmudullah continued to bat solidly till he was run out off the last ball, trying to sneak a second run.

Mahmudullah hit three sixes and seven fours while Miraz’s 119-ball knock contained four fours.

Omarzai took a career best 4-37, improving on his 3-56 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele earlier this year.

Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Live Scorecard 2nd ODI© X/@ACB

Afghanistan vs New Zealand, One-Off Test Day 2, Live Updates© AFP

Afghan student Basit Wali Hotak travelled hundreds of kilometres overnight to Kabul on Thursday for the chance to glimpse his cricket hero, Rashid Khan, on a home pitch. The Shpageeza T20 league kicked off last week, with the usual cricket fever fanned by the promised inclusion of national players, many of whom have not joined domestic tournaments since the Taliban authorities swept to power in 2021. Thousands of fans turned out at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium to see the famous players.

“I am extremely happy,” Hotak told AFP, as he waited in a crowd jostling for tickets and fried snacks before filing past Taliban security guards to enter the stadium.

“I hardly noticed how long the line was out of joy that I would finally get to see Rashid Khan,” Hotak said of the ace spinner and captain of the T20 national team.

Hotak left the southern city of Kandahar on Wednesday night to reach Kabul by 6 am (0130 GMT), sleeping only an hour before rushing to the stadium.

In cricket-mad Afghanistan, the national team’s strides on the international stage have provided rare moments of widespread celebration in a country ravaged by four decades of war.

Hotak was one of many who made long journeys over accident-prone and poorly maintained roads and spent their limited cash to buy the 50 Afghani (70-cent) tickets.

“For Rashid Khan, even if the ticket was 1,000 Afghanis ($14), I would still have bought one,” said the 21-year-old, who has a picture of the Afghan sensation as his phone background.

“This has been my biggest dream.”

‘Heroes’

Much to Hotak’s dismay, Khan and other star players expected to join the match between the Speenghar Tigers and Mis-e-Ainak Knights were not part of the playing eleven.

Still, when the cameras showed the Afghan captain sitting in the dugout, loud cheers erupted in the all-male crowd.

After the match, Khan signed autographs at the edge of the stands, with fans injuring themselves on barbed wire along the barriers as they scrambled to reach the star.

“If you see my room and my social media accounts, they are flooded with photos of king Rashid Khan,” said 18-year-old Abid Usmani from Kapisa, who had printed a banner covered with Khan photos.

“He is an asset for us, a star not only for the Afghans but on the international level.”

During the match, a chant of “heroes, long live heroes” periodically boomed from loudspeakers, occasionally drawing jubilant responses from the crowd.

Former captain and allrounder Mohammad Nabi did take to the pitch, facing off against his son, Hassan Eisakhil — both wearing “Number 7” jerseys.

The presence of Afghan national players in the Shpageeza league after several years also raised fans’ hopes that international teams might play in Afghanistan.

The Taliban government has not been recognised by any other state, complicating sports’ teams participation in international arenas, but athletes from other countries have recently been welcomed to Afghanistan for competition.

“If they (national players) play games here, the international teams will also come to play here, because it shows security has been ensured,” suggested 19-year-old Abdul Ahad.

Another fan, Kamil Shah Mashal, travelled hours with his friends to the capital.

“It is crazy love that has brought us here to Kabul from Khost,” which borders Pakistan, he told AFP.

“I don’t see any other reason for young people to be happy in the current situation because of the crises that have made some of them flee the country,” he said.

“It’s only cricket left that keeps us happy.

Veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is not thinking about hanging up his international boots soon and hopes to continue playing for the country till the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. Nabi, who is leading Dambulla Sixers in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), wants to prolong his international career in the T20Is. The 39-year-old has planned to take a call on his ODI future after the Champions Trophy, adding that he wants to bid adieu the international cricket following the next T20 World Cup.

“For how long do I want to continue my cricket? Still, my body is working and I am running fast. I am fielding in the boundary taking catches well and doing bowling well. Still, I am doing well and I am trying to keep myself (fit) for as long as possible,” Cricbuzz quoted Nabi as saying on Friday.

“Afghanistan team needs me as well at this stage but still may be Champions Trophy will be my last Champions Trophy in 50-over (format) and after that maybe one year and that’s it,” he said adding that he is keen to end his career with the next edition of ICC T20 World Cup.

“Hope so (about playing in the next T20 World Cup). If I am selected I will have to play,” he said.

Nabi, who has been regarded as one of the strong pillars of the Afghanistan cricket team since making his debut in 2009, acknowledged the fact of getting old and highlighted his commitment to staying fit by sticking to a clean diet.

“I am not young as I am 40 years old man. Still, I try my best to train hard and do my recovery as quickly as possible and it all depends on your food and how you eat. How you eat clean and good food as it makes you more fit,” said the veteran.

The 39-year-old added that franchise cricket exposure to Afghanistan players helped them a lot in the recent historic semi-final finish in the T20 World Cup.

“It gives us a lot of experience and also brings that experience to the national team and we share it with the youngsters. Afghanistan’s T20 performance (in the World Cup) was really good. We beat big teams in the tournament.

“Yeah, first time in the semifinal and the tough four and that was a great achievement in my cricket life and hopefully more to come. As a team, we played and performed in the World Cup and everyone contributed a lot in this World Cup,” he concluded.

South Africa sent a stern warning to their opponents in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as they bowled out Afghanistan for a total of just 56, before chasing it down in under 10 overs. The Proteas reached their first-ever T20 World Cup Final, and will face either India or England on June 29. But throughout their dominant bowling performance, one moment stood out, showing the sheer might of the South African bowling unit. The delivery – bowled by Kagiso Rabada – went viral on social media.

With Afghanistan off to a shaky start at 20-3, Kagiso Rabada bowled a peach of a delivery to knock over veteran batter Mohammad Nabi for a duck.

The inswinging delivery sent Nabi’s off-stump cartwheeling. Afghanistan were down to 20-4 inside four overs. The ball beat Nabi between his bat and pad, and dismantled the stumps.

Rabada bowled a maiden over, including the two wickets of Nabi and opener Ibrahim Zadran. Rabada’s delivery went viral on X, with fans raving.

“Look at the run up, the action and the delivery. The perfect fast bowler,” tweeted one user.

Rabada, what is this ?

..#SAvsAFG #SAvAFG #T20WoldCup pic.twitter.com/6EjhRdnRwR

— 56 is not Just Number (@HUSNAINMANJ_01) June 27, 2024

Another fan on social media called for Rabada to receive more appreciation.

One comparison touted Rabada as a greater bowler than legendary South African speedstar Dale Steyn at his peak.

One more fan brought up the mouth-watering prospect of India’s Virat Kohli facing Rabada in the 2024 T20 World Cup Final.

With the chances of rain being over 90% for the second semi-final, an abandoned match would see India qualify to the final ahead of England, due to their better group stage finish.

People talk about Bumrah, people talk about Starc, people talk about Cummins. But this beast has always gone under-appreciated despite being too good in every format for years now. https://t.co/W4dPYWMHq7

— Thank You Davey (@jersey_no_46) June 27, 2024

This boy’s purpose was to play cricket. Better than prime Dale Steyn in my books https://t.co/g9kWeJVkfc

— Linda #WOD (@The_DonHimself) June 27, 2024

Rabada to kohli https://t.co/absD9MOn9r

— Oscar (@Oscar_0039) June 27, 2024

Rabada’s two wickets, along with three each from Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi and two more from Anrich Nortje, helped South Africa bundle up the Afghan batting lineup in just 11.5 overs.

South Africa still have a 100% win record in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In the recent past, Afghanistan have become the second favourite team of cricket fans (assuming their respective countries are the first) in international tournaments. If you asked them before the start of the T20 World Cup, “If not your country, which team would you like to see win?”, most would have answered, “Afghanistan” (at other times, and for different reasons, New Zealand or Sri Lanka have been second favourites).

And this is not just because of Afghanistan’s recent history of war and terror and human disasters — which are reason enough — but for the brand of joyful cricket and unexpected narratives they bring to the field of play too. And for the sheer spirit and togetherness in the team which now has some world class performers.

Thrill of participation

This support is in no way patronising, nor does it come from a position of superiority. There has always been, in this team, the palpable thrill of participation, and the augury of great possibilities, all communicated to the viewers unselfconsciously. Now they have two bowlers in the world’s Top 10 and a batter in the Top 15 as they prepare to take on South Africa in the semifinal of a World Cup. It is the most romantic cricket story of our times.

The three other semifinalists are the only teams in the top 10 that Afghanistan have not beaten yet. But that hardly matters. This World Cup is already theirs in a bigger sense.

“Cricket is the only source of happiness back home,” skipper Rashid Khan has said. Afghanistan’s cricket is a source of happiness the world over. But there’s more. Cricket spells hope for a country that has suffered for decades, giving the players a sense of purpose and the satisfaction of achievement.

On the other hand, the growth of cricket among Afghans has showed the significance of sport and its ability to mean something beyond itself. Afghanistan and cricket have been good for each other, both have gained from the relationship.

Significantly, Afghanistan beat Bangladesh the old-fashioned way, by claiming ten wickets. They didn’t need any help from a rain washout or the rules or the apparently dodgy cramps from a player. This means there will be no mental asterisks against their qualification, for they certainly deserve to be in the semifinals. They beat Australia and New Zealand at the World Cup. They have three of the five most successful bowlers and two of the three most successful batters in the tournament.

But statistics are merely reference points for future researchers. These say nothing of the excitement, the decisions under pressure or how close to the edge either team came.

Crucial call

When Naveen-ul Haq came on to bowl what turned out to be the final over, there was consternation that Afghanistan might have got it wrong. Shouldn’t Fazalhaq Farooqi, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament and a left arm seamer, be the one to bowl it? If the match went into the 19th over, surely it would be the end for Afghanistan?

It needed some magic, perhaps two wickets in two deliveries so opening batter Litton Das would be left stranded at the non-striker’s end. Naveen-ul Haq provided the magic. Two wickets off successive deliveries. Then he took off, arms outstretched, and in danger of achieving lift-off. It was magnificent, a startling reminder of why some people play a sport, other people write about it, and how one hour of crowded glory is worth an age without a name!

Importance of Nabi

Mohammad Nabi, a few months short of his 40th birthday, was less demonstrative than the bowler. He had seen it all while taking Afghanistan from the World Cricket League division 5 to the semifinals of a World Cup. It was his century against a touring MCC that suggested Afghanistan might be a future Test candidate. Much like C.K. Nayudu’s century against the MCC hastened India’s entry into the big league.

Nabi has played 127 of Afghanistan’s 137 T20 internationals — his book, when he writes it, will have some of the most fascinating human stories you can hope to read anywhere.

But all that’s for the future. For the moment, it is celebration time. For Afghanistan, and for the rest of the world (barring perhaps Australia and Bangladesh).

Australia Test stalwart Usman Khawaja expressed his sadness at Afghanistan not being able to play in Australia, as he congratulated Afghanistan’s historic 2024 T20 World Cup win over his own country. Earlier in the year, Cricket Australia had cancelled a bilateral series against Afghanistan over the country’s “marked deterioration” in the treatment of women and children, following the rise of the Taliban regime. While the Afghanistan cricketers remain puzzled over the decision, Khawaja stated that the Afghanistan side was an inspiration.

Replying to a tweet by Rashid Khan celebrating Afghanistan’s 21-run win over Australia, Khawaja said:

“Well done Brother. Better team on the day. You boys are an inspiration for so many back home and abroad. So sad we can’t see you all play in Australia.”

In 2023 and 2024, Cricket Australia had cancelled a planned bilateral series against Afghanistan. The decisions came following restrictions imposed by the ruling Taliban, which did not allow women and girls to access higher education and public property like parks and gyms.

Needing a win to stay alive in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan posted a total of 148 in 20 overs. However, the Aussie opening pair of Travis Head and David Warner failed to fire.

It looked that much like the 2023 World Cup clash between the two nations, Glenn Maxwell would take the game away from Afghanistan. However, he was dismissed in the 15th over, with Australia lying at 106-6. 

Gulbadin Naib was the unlikely hero with the ball, picking up four wickets: Maxwell, the in-form Marcus Stoinis, Tim David and Pat Cummins.

Afghanistan bundled out Australia for 127, registering their first win over the Aussies in T20 World Cup history.

If Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in their final Super 8 clash, and Australia lose to India, then Afghanistan will take a spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup semis.

Packed streets of Afghanistan after T20 World Cup Super 8 win vs Australia.© X (Twitter)