Followers take to the streets from Kabul to Kandahar and Khost to Laghman as Afghanistan attain first-ever World Cup semifinal.
Zikria, a 30-year-old Kabul resident, stayed up after the predawn prayers to observe Afghanistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 digital knockout match in opposition to Bangladesh that began at 5am (00:30 GMT).
4 and a half hours and a number of rain interruptions later, Afghanistan edged Bangladesh in an exciting contest and booked their maiden semifinal look on the event.
“I saved praying [for Afghanistan] all through the match,” Zikria advised Al Jazeera. “I’m happy with my group, my captain Rashid Khan and all of the help employees.”
Shortly after Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed Mustafizur Rahman to seal Afghanistan’s place within the final 4, celebrations erupted in numerous elements of the cricket-mad Asian nation.
Look, what this success means to us! 🤩#AfghanAtalan | #T20WorldCup | #AFGvBAN | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/loBZ6nW4e0
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) June 25, 2024
‘Praying to win the ultimate’
Followers, largely males, poured into the streets and metropolis centres to cheer their group.
The win was hailed by the Taliban authorities that took energy within the nation after the withdrawal of US forces almost three years in the past.
Cricket is by far the most well-liked sport within the nation that always brings pleasure to the folks of Afghanistan which witnessed nearly 4 many years of battle in addition to financial and political instability.
Afghanistan’s win additionally knocked out former champions Australia, who’ve twice pulled out of a bilateral sequence in opposition to Afghanistan males’s group citing “deteriorating human rights for girls and ladies within the nation beneath Taliban rule” however nonetheless went forward in opposition to them in ICC occasions.
Afghanistan’s International Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi congratulated Rashid and his group in a video posted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board on X.
Muttaqi spoke to Rashid over a video name and the beaming captain acquired his felicitations.
Abdullah, a 20-year-old fan from Kabul, stated the win was a “dream come true” for him.
“I can not categorical my emotions proper now, I’m overwhelmed,” the visibly emotional fan stated a couple of hours after the match had ended. “Now, we hope and praying to win the ultimate.”
Afghanistan have by no means made it to the knockout stage of any ICC World Cup. Till now, their finest end within the T20 World Cup had been reaching the second spherical 3 times. They’re but to progress previous the primary spherical within the 50-over World Cup.
‘Large inspiration for younger folks in Afghanistan’
Rashid led from the entrance on the sector as he hit three necessary sixes in his innings of 19 after which took 4 wickets as Afghanistan received by eight runs.
“It’s an enormous achievement for us as a group and as a nation to be within the semifinals,” the 25-year-old stated after the match. “[This win] goes to be an enormous inspiration for younger folks again dwelling in Afghanistan.”
One other fan, Imran, 22, believes all of Afghanistan was praying for the group.
“I’ve no phrases [to express my joy],” he advised Al Jazeera in Kabul.
Followers, no matter their age, have been seen celebrating.
Photos and movies on social media confirmed wild celebrations in numerous elements of the nation, together with Khost, Jalalabad and Laghman province, in addition to in Kandahar metropolis.
Some danced on the streets, whereas others chanted: “Lengthy stay Afghanistan cricket.”
Aerial firing, a standard celebratory follow in some elements of the world, may be seen as followers watched the sport on big screens in metropolis centres.
Afghanistan will face South Africa within the first semifinal on June 27 at 00:30 GMT.
All 👀 on the subsequent one !! 💪
That is for each 🇦🇫 fan who believed in us and saved us going 🙏#ICC #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/vQREijaoQn
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) June 25, 2024
Further reporting by Mohsin Khan Momand from Kabul.
