Hashmatullah Shahidi, the Afghanistan captain, has dedicated their World Cup win over the Netherlands to Afghan refugees fleeing from Pakistan, lending a voice of support to their struggle.

Pakistan employed a nation-wide crackdown on Afghan refugees in the country, incorporating a November 1 deadline for them to leave the country. As many as 165,000 of the estimated 1.7 million refugees have reportedly fled since the deportation order. Further, three catastrophic earthquakes in Afghanistan, across eight days, have led to 1,400 deaths.

Speaking after Afghanistan’s seven-wicket win in Lucknow, which kept their semi-final hopes alive, Shahidi said: “A message to our country back home. We know that a lot of refugee people are struggling. We are watching the videos and we are sad for them”.

“We are with them in these tough times and I want to dedicate this win to them, who are in pain, and to everyone back home.”

Shahidi also revealed he was recovering from personal grief, emphasising on how much a semi-final spot would mean to him and the team. “I lost my mother three months ago and my family is in a lot of pain,” he said. “We are still dreaming and we are still trying our best to make the semi-final. That would be such a big achievement for our country and for me.”

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🇦🇫 Afghanistan keep their semi-final dreams alive
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— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 3, 2023

At the post-match press conference, head coach Jonathan Trott spoke on how his team, through sport, was able to bring some joy to those struggling back home.

“I think the players are attuned with everything that’s going on back home, whether it’s an earthquake and other things,” Trott said. “So they realise, and I think they’re enjoying the joy that they’re giving to the Afghan people and the smile that they currently have on their face in the changing room, but also the smiles that’s giving everybody else.

“That’s the great thing about sport and being able to touch people in far further afield than just here in the stadium or in this country, but back home as well.”

Afghanistan are currently fifth on the points table, level with New Zealand but inferior on net run rate. They play Australia and South Africa in their remaining league matches. With the win, Afghanistan also secured a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

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