Cricket comes to Afghanistan 21.11.2005 South Asia's passion for cricket has finally gripped Afghans, who look forward to a day when their national cricket team will play against India. Though the fundamentalist Taliban banned all sports during its seven-year rule, more that 300 cricket clubs have sprung up all over Afghanistan during the last three years with the return of democracy. Gone are the days when the Taliban converted the National Sports Stadium here into an execution arena where women accused of adultery were stoned to death and men beheaded for theft and other crimes. Afghanistan has put together a national cricket team, mostly from among youngsters who have returned to their motherland after having taken refuge in neighbouring Pakistan, where the game, like in India, is a national craze. An academy to coach cricketers has come up here. "We are knocking at the doors of world cricket," says Taj Malik Alam, the secretary general of the Afghanistan Cricket Federation and the national coach. The Afghan team defeated Malaysia and Bahrain at a recent cricket tournament in Dubai. It is training hard to secure a place in the Asia Cup after playing in the qualifying round. It hopes to play with South Asian Test playing nations such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "President Hamid Karzai is a great cricket fan and watches the game whenever he finds time. He has promised a Toyota vehicle each to the team members if they are able to beat Pakistan. "But our most cherished dream is to play against India, which has produced legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar," Alam told IANS. He said he had made a proposal to then Indian captain Sourav Ganguly as well as to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla. Both of them welcomed the idea but it was yet to materialise, he added. "Even an exhibition match will raise our morale and be a big boost to the game in Afghanistan," Alam said. Afghan cricketers idolise Indian batting sensation Tendulkar and teenagers aim to imitate his shots. The team's pinch hitter, Karim Sadiq, is popularly known as the Virender Sehwag of Afghanistan. Sadiq has four centuries to his credit, including two scored while playing in the Pakistani domestic circuit. The team has a couple of all-rounders and four spinners, apart from two fast bowlers who are capable of bowling at a speed of 145 km per hour. The Asian Cricket Council granted an annual grant of $70,000 for ground development, equipment and facilities, Alam said. There are 18 coaches trained with help from Australia. The Standard Chartered Bank has sponsored Afghanistan's under-15 team, selected from about 700 contestants. << | >> |
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