1 February 2009: On the way to the Cricket World Cup
Hastigul Abed gives a thumbs up after the win against the Cayman Islands which cemented Afghanistan into 1st place in the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Photo for UNAMA by Leslie Knott in Argentina.
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2011 Cricket World Cup one more step closer for Afghan team
By Leslie Knott for UNAMA in Argentina
1 February 2009 - Afghanistan’s Cricket Team continues its historic journey to the ICC World Cup 2011 by coming in first at the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The win means the team now participates in the ICC World Cup qualifying round tournament in South Africa in April.
The amazing journey towards the world cup started with the ICC Division 5 tournament in May 2008 on the island of Jersey in the UK.
The Afghans gained first place and qualified for Division 4 in Tanzania in October 2008.
Their domination in Division 4 with no losses, gained the team a position in the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires which started on 24 January 2009.
The competition in Division 3 proved challenging, with an initial loss to Uganda in the first match.
As the week of play progressed so did the team, with Afghanistan moving from fourth to first position, which they held until the end of the tournament.
The hat trick of first place trophies has been a source of pride for fans back home in Afghanistan, and a surprise to the international cricketing world.
For the players on the team it’s a dream come true.
Most of the team fled Afghanistan during the 1980s and started playing cricket in refugee camps in Peshawar.
Raees Ahmadzai, the former Captain of Afghanistan, said that the chance to qualify to play in the World Cup comes as result of a passion for the game and a love of Afghanistan.
“When we started cricket in 2002 we hoped that one day Afghanistan would play with the top nations and that we could win against these nations. By winning this tournament it means that we have only one step left before the World Cup. That is a great accomplishment. What we lack in facilities in Afghanistan, we make up with our natural talent and our will to win. I am sure that we will make it to the World Cup 2011,” he said.
The ICC World Cup Qualifying round takes place in South Africa from 1 to 18 April.
Afghanistan will be vying for a position against 12 other teams including Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, UAE, Denmark, Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands.
The top four teams will go through to the World Cup 2011.
A position within the top six is also sought after, as it will secure one-day international status for the next four years.
For Afghanistan that would qualify them to finally take on the cricketing legends of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
1 February 2009: On the way to the Cricket World Cup
Hastigul Abed gives a thumbs up after the win against the Cayman Islands which cemented Afghanistan into 1st place in the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Photo for UNAMA by Leslie Knott in Argentina.
--------------------------------------
2011 Cricket World Cup one more step closer for Afghan team
By Leslie Knott for UNAMA in Argentina
1 February 2009 - Afghanistan’s Cricket Team continues its historic journey to the ICC World Cup 2011 by coming in first at the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The win means the team now participates in the ICC World Cup qualifying round tournament in South Africa in April.
The amazing journey towards the world cup started with the ICC Division 5 tournament in May 2008 on the island of Jersey in the UK.
The Afghans gained first place and qualified for Division 4 in Tanzania in October 2008.
Their domination in Division 4 with no losses, gained the team a position in the ICC Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires which started on 24 January 2009.
The competition in Division 3 proved challenging, with an initial loss to Uganda in the first match.
As the week of play progressed so did the team, with Afghanistan moving from fourth to first position, which they held until the end of the tournament.
The hat trick of first place trophies has been a source of pride for fans back home in Afghanistan, and a surprise to the international cricketing world.
For the players on the team it’s a dream come true.
Most of the team fled Afghanistan during the 1980s and started playing cricket in refugee camps in Peshawar.
Raees Ahmadzai, the former Captain of Afghanistan, said that the chance to qualify to play in the World Cup comes as result of a passion for the game and a love of Afghanistan.
“When we started cricket in 2002 we hoped that one day Afghanistan would play with the top nations and that we could win against these nations. By winning this tournament it means that we have only one step left before the World Cup. That is a great accomplishment. What we lack in facilities in Afghanistan, we make up with our natural talent and our will to win. I am sure that we will make it to the World Cup 2011,” he said.
The ICC World Cup Qualifying round takes place in South Africa from 1 to 18 April.
Afghanistan will be vying for a position against 12 other teams including Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, UAE, Denmark, Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands.
The top four teams will go through to the World Cup 2011.
A position within the top six is also sought after, as it will secure one-day international status for the next four years.
For Afghanistan that would qualify them to finally take on the cricketing legends of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.