The Chirping Presence: Crickets In Afghanistan's Landscape

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the official governing body of the sport in the country and is based in Kabul. The Afghanistan national cricket team has been very successful in international competitions, and the country has a strong cricket culture with 320 cricket clubs and 6 turf wickets. Despite various challenges, including the Taliban's regressive stance on women in cricket and the country's security situation, Afghanistan continues to produce talented cricketers and expand its cricket infrastructure.

Cricket is the most popular sport in Afghanistan

Cricket was first played in Afghanistan during the 19th-century Anglo-Afghan Wars, with British troops reported to have played in Kabul in 1839. However, unlike in many other countries, the British left no lasting cricket legacy, and it would be more than a hundred years before cricket returned to the country.

In the 1990s, cricket became popular among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed there in 1995. They continued to play cricket upon their return to Afghanistan in late 2001. Like all sports, cricket was originally banned by the Taliban, but it became an exception in 2000, and the Afghanistan Cricket Federation was elected as an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) the following year. Afghanistan became a full member of the ICC on 22 June 2017, enabling the national team to participate in official Test matches.

Afghanistan's playing season runs from May to September. There are 320 cricket clubs and 6 turf wickets in the country. Cricket's popularity in Afghanistan has been aided by the country's border with Pakistan, a Test-playing nation. Afghanistan's national team has made quick progress in the international cricket world. In 2015, Afghanistan held its first marathon, which included one woman, Zainab, who became the first Afghan woman to run a marathon within her own country.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the official governing body of cricket in Afghanistan

Cricket was first played in Afghanistan during the 19th-century Anglo-Afghan Wars when British troops reportedly played in Kabul in 1839. However, it was in the 1990s, among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, that the sport gained popularity. The Afghanistan Cricket Federation was formed in Pakistan in 1995, and upon their return to Afghanistan in 2001, the organisation became known as the ACB.

The national cricket team has enjoyed success in the early 21st century, with the men's team ranked 10th in Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket as of February 2023. The team holds the world record for the second-highest T20I score, with 278/3 against Ireland in 2019. The Afghan women's national cricket team was formed in 2010, but it became inactive following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021.

Despite the challenges posed by the country's security situation and the lack of international-standard facilities, the ACB has been instrumental in developing cricket in Afghanistan. It has set targets for the national team to be a top-six ODI team by 2019 and a top-three team in both T20Is and ODIs by 2025. The ACB has also been working on revamping its corporate and domestic cricket structure and upgrading facilities in Kabul to include a high-performance centre.

The Afghanistan national cricket team has enjoyed success in the 21st century

Cricket is the most popular sport in Afghanistan, with 320 cricket clubs and 6 turf wickets in the country. The Afghanistan national cricket team has enjoyed success in the 21st century, with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) being formed in 1995 and becoming an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001. The team gained One Day International status in 2009 and has since risen through the ranks of the World Cricket League, participating in the 2015 Cricket World Cup and qualifying for the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

In 2017, Afghanistan became a full member of the ICC, enabling the team to participate in official Test matches. The team has continued to make progress in international cricket, winning their first Cricket World Cup match in 2015 against Scotland and achieving their first Test match victory in 2019 against Ireland. In 2023, Afghanistan secured a victory against the defending champions, England, in the Cricket World Cup. The team is ranked 10th in Twenty20 International cricket as of February 2023 and holds the world record for the 2nd highest Twenty20 International score.

The Afghanistan national cricket team has overcome challenges such as the lack of international standard facilities and the country's security situation, with the team typically playing their home matches outside of Afghanistan. Despite these obstacles, cricket in Afghanistan has received strong support from fans and the government, with plans to construct cricket grounds in all provinces. The sport has brought unity and hope to the nation, and the national team's success has been celebrated across the country.

Afghanistan has competed in the Cricket World Cup

In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan won their first match against Scotland by one wicket. However, they lost all their remaining games and were knocked out in the opening round.

In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan failed to win any matches, marking the first time in their short history in the tournament that they were unable to claim victory against any national team.

In the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan beat former champions Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England. They also defeated the Netherlands for the first time in the Cricket World Cup and achieved three consecutive victories for the first time in the tournament. Afghanistan's win against England was their first against the defending Cricket World Cup champions. Additionally, their victory over Pakistan was their first-ever ODI win against them.

Despite their impressive performances, Afghanistan did not make it to the semi-finals in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

Cricket is one of the few pastimes accepted by the Taliban

The Taliban's acceptance of cricket is in stark contrast to their stance on other forms of entertainment and sports. The regime has clamped down on public entertainment and banned women from participating in any sport. Despite these restrictions, cricket remains wildly popular in Afghanistan, with men's cricket teams continuing to participate in international competitions.

The Taliban's support for cricket has helped the sport thrive in Afghanistan. The national men's cricket team has achieved notable successes, including winning against defending world champions and former titleholders in the Cricket World Cup. The team's accomplishments have brought joy and pride to Afghans, uniting a deeply fragmented society.

However, the Taliban's involvement in cricket has also led to controversy. The regime's regressive policies and human rights violations, particularly regarding women's rights, have resulted in criticism and calls for the suspension of the ACB's membership in the ICC. Despite these challenges, cricket in Afghanistan persists, with the Taliban's support ensuring its continuity.

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