NEW DELHI: Afghanistan, a nation ravaged by war with almost no infrastructure or stadiums of their own, has been making headlines in the ongoing T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
Despite the adversities, Afghanistan has managed to advance to the Super 8 stage and is now on the brink of making it to the semi-finals after a remarkable win against former champions Australia.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board, formed in 1995, became an affiliate member of the ICC in 2001, and after a decade, achieved Test status and full ICC membership by 2017.
The team's recent achievements have been attributed to a combination of mental and physical toughness, as well as significant exposure to international T20 leagues.
Emphasizing on the mental and physical resilience of the Afghan players, former India keeper-batter Vijay Dahiya feels Afghans have been honed by playing in various conditions and leagues worldwide.
"This Afghan team is mentally very tough and they are hungry. They are tough physically too but in cricket mental toughness matters more. I won't be surprised if they reach the semi-finals.
"They believe in themselves and are now a very dangerous side. They have been a phenomenon," Dahiya told PTI Videos.
Dahiya highlighted the importance of their participation in international T20 leagues, which has provided substantial experience to the Afghan players. However, political tensions remain as Australia has consistently refused to host Afghanistan for bilateral engagements due to the Taliban's rule and the denial of women's rights in the country.
"Look at their team. At least eight players compete in different leagues all over the world. They play in Big Bash, The Hundred, and IPL they play everywhere. They get experience and pass it on to the rest of the players," he pointed out.
"They have taken full advantage of their exposure. They have a great and inspiring captain in Rashid Khan. Dashing openers, experienced middle order, and a great bowling unit," he noted.
Individual performances have also been noteworthy. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, with 238 runs in six matches, stands at the top of the batting chart, while Ibrahim Zadran, with 211 runs, is in fourth place. Both have been critical in setting and chasing down competitive targets.
Fazalhaq Farooqi is another standout performer, leading the wicket-taking chart with 15 scalps in six matches, surpassing Australia's Adam Zampa.
Former India medium pacer Atul Wassan commented on the team's tenacity and commitment.
"They fear nobody. They have nothing to lose. They have no other option but to assert themselves through cricket. Their T20 team looks solid. They have some outstanding T20 cricketers who can dash with the bat and attack with the ball. Look at Gurbaz and Zadran," he said.
"They are sensations. They have been simply outstanding. It's not just the number of runs but the way they have been scoring them. They have a great wrist spinner in Noor Ahmad."
He also pointed out that countries like India and UAE have helped them establish and develop their cricket in a big way.
Afghanistan will be hoping that India beats Australia on Monday and they themselves get the better of Bangladesh on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals and rewrite history.
