When the sun sets on Thursday, June 14, Afghanistan will begin a long weekend of celebration. Eid-ul-Fitr, when practising Muslims around the world end a month of Ramadan fasting, will be around the corner. It’s a celebration of generosity and steadfastness, of the power of community.
It seems poetic that the wait for the new moon comes on a day that dawned with celebration of a different kind, for another rare thing that brings joy and bonding to a war-torn country: Cricket.
On Thursday, the start of the football World Cup 2018 in Russia will be the biggest piece of sporting excitement. Everywhere in the world but for Afghanistan, where a mix of politics and serendipity has meant that cricket has long overtaken football as the most beloved sport. They will instead be basking in the fruition of a cherished dream, as the country keeps up its phenomenal rise in taking its maiden steps in Test cricket.
The big day has finally arrived and Afghanistan is all set to face India in the #HistoricTest match at Bengaluru#INDvsAFG #AFGvIND #PhenomenalRise pic.twitter.com/7fCjS4xv7S
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 13, 2018
When Asghar Stanikzai and his men walk onto the green outfield of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to play India – in Test whites for the first time; not the spirited sky blue in which they’ve found so much recent success – their journey will be followed with pride on TVs, radios and social media back home.
Afghanistan Cricket Board officials are convinced that, like always when the national team play, the streets will empty even as the locals converge at make-shift viewing areas.
Simmons, who was previously Ireland coach, observed: “Ireland hasn’t produced the amount of youngsters in the last four-five years as Afghanistan has produced. The batting is a little bit less, but the bowling, you will see a young fast bowler [Wafadar] in this Test match hopefully, it shows that they (Afghanistan) have young talent coming up. And exciting prospects for the future.”
Over the past month, while at training and even playing the T20s, the Afghan cricketers maintained their religious fast. The rigours of Test cricket and the prospect of possibly having to spend a full eight hours on the field has forced a change over the past couple of days. But they will hope that come sunset, they too, like their countrymen, will have more to be thankful for.
