UK in Maldives
20:08, 28 Jan 2012
In Praise of Afghan Cricket
07 September 2010
British Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir William Patey writes about cricket in Afghanistan.As a Scotsman I am not naturally drawn to cricket, which I consider to be a slightly bizarre English game with its own strange language and customs – leg before wicket anyone?
However, after four months as British Ambassador to Afghanistan, it is impossible to ignore how important the game is to this country.
Yesterday the Afghan Youth Cricket Association team won the Ramazan cup in Pakistan. Prior to that, in August, the Afghan national team defeated Scotland on the final day of a four day test match in Ayr. Although I have only just shaken off the disappointment of that defeat, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Afghan cricket team whose achievements to date are truly remarkable.
From the refugee camps of Pakistan to the Twenty/Twenty World Cup Finals in the West Indies in under a decade, the Afghan cricket team has come a long way in a short time. Their inspiring story has been widely covered in the international media and provides a stark contrast to the staple reporting on Afghanistan with their focus on conflict, corruption and casualties.
Through hard-work, dedication and perseverance, the Afghan team rose swiftly through the ICC rankings. When they played their first international game in Division 5 in 2008 they were ranked 81st in the world – now they play in Division 1 and are ranked 13th. During the course of their rise they played and beat teams from richer countries with more resources like the US, Canada and the Netherlands.
It is tremendously important that the rest of the world, not just coalition partners, see the positive side to Afghanistan, like that projected by the Afghan cricket team. There are millions of people in Afghanistan who are working for a better future for their country. In many ways, the Afghan cricket team are a symbol of the struggle of these people. Their success demonstrates that, far from being a lost cause, the people of Afghanistan have the spirit and dedication to overcome the obstacles facing them. In this respect, although they are known for their cricket, the Afghan players are also the unsung Ambassadors of Afghanistan.
Who knows, in a couple of years time, Afghanistan could be playing England in a test at Lords. And by then who knows what more will have been achieved in Afghanistan in terms of increased stability, security and prosperity.