Superb, strong and tremendous…these three words are perfectly fitting for the Afghanistan cricket team. What a wonderful match Rashid Khan's team won against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup 2024. This victory took the Afghan team to the semi-finals. Afghanistan has not done any miracle that should surprise anyone. It has made winning a habit. Even its opponents have started acknowledging its strength. Before defeating Bangladesh, this team had crushed Australia. But by defeating Bangladesh, it hit two birds with one stone. It not only registered a win over Bangladesh but also knocked out the cricket superpower Australian team from the T20 World Cup.

By showing strength in cricket, Afghanistan is getting a new identity on the international stage. Otherwise, hardly anyone knows this country for any reason other than terrorism. This is the same Afghanistan which has been the stronghold of the Taliban. This is the same Afghanistan where everyone from America to Russia kept an eye. Everyone used their power here. Whoever got the chance ruled. It was only two decades ago when democracy came alive here. Afghanistan's cricket team was formed. Then came the year 2021. The month was August. The Taliban took over power by removing the government elected by the people.

rashid khan

Crisis also started looming over cricket in the country. But by the time this time came, the Afghan team had already established its identity in international cricket. This was the team that used to compete with the big teams. If it won one or two matches, it was called a miracle. An army of spinners had been formed in the team. This was becoming its strength. But after the arrival of Taliban, it was felt that cricket would also be affected there.

Taliban take over cricket board

Taliban had even interfered in the cricket board. They had taken over the cricket board. Then a picture came out. Taliban fighters were seen with guns in the office of the Afghan Cricket Board. Various questions started arising. Will cricket end in Afghanistan? What will happen to Rashid Khan? What will happen to Mujeeb ur Rahman? Will they not be seen playing anymore?

But while there was an atmosphere of unrest in the country, there were some who were busy honing their skills with the ball and bat. These include Rashid Khan, Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq and many other players who proved their talent to the world in this World Cup. These are the same players against whom Australia had refused to play a bilateral series after the Taliban rule. The Afghan team felt this refusal was an insult.

Taliban take over Afghan Cricket Board

The Afghan team also decided that it will take revenge. It was a big platform. What can be bigger than the T20 World Cup. First it gave a tough challenge in the 2021 World Cup and then in the 2024 World Cup, it showed the 2021 World Champion the stars in the day. Now the Afghan team is being discussed everywhere. There have been very few occasions when this country is being discussed for anything other than fighting terrorism.

The Afghan team became stronger after 2021

It would be called a coincidence that after the Taliban came to power in 2021, the performance of the Afghanistan team was excellent. It almost brought Australia to the brink of defeat in the 2021 T20 World Cup. At the same time, in the 2023 World Cup, it surprised everyone by defeating England. In the same World Cup, it also defeated Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

In the ODI rankings, they are at the 9th position and in T20, they are at the 10th position. Players like Rashid Khan, Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq are counted among the star players of the world. They also play in IPL. The Afghan spin trio is famous all over the world. It is the trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmed. If you add Mujeeb Ur Rahman to it, then it becomes four. Among the batsmen, they have openers like Gurbaz, Ibrahim. These are the two players on whose strength Afghanistan defeated Australia in this World Cup. Both of them had added more than 100 runs for the first wicket.