Afghanistan celebrates cricket World Cup qualification
5 Oct BBC
Celebrations have taken place across Afghanistan after its cricketers
qualified for the first time for the World Cup, to be held in 2015.
The team beat Kenya by seven wickets on Friday in their final
qualifying match in Sharjah.More than 1,000 overjoyed fans watched their
convincing victory on a giant screen in a stadium in Kabul before taking
to the streets in celebration.There were similar outpourings of joy in
most other major cities.
Parts of the southern city of Kandahar ground to a halt as fans
celebrated the win in public places.Skipper and all-rounder Mohammad
Nabi described the win as "a gift to a young generation".Jubilant coach
Kabir Khan, a former Pakistan test cricketer, described the victory as
the best day of his coaching life.Afghanistan is one of the world's
poorest countries and has been blighted by decades of conflict. Its
national cricket team only received associate status, the second tier
below Test nations, earlier this year.
They reached a target of 94 to finish second behind Ireland in the
World Cricket League and will be in England's group at the 2015 Cricket
World Cup, which is being held in Australia and New Zealand.Their first
match in the competition will be against Bangladesh in Canberra on 18
February 2015 and they will also face Sri Lanka, Australia and New
Zealand before taking on England in Sydney on 13 March.Needing a win to
move above the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands, Afghanistan
bowled Kenya out for 93, with only Morris Ouma and Rakep Patel reaching
double figures.
Skipper Nabi was playing in his 27th one-day international and
steered his team to victory with an unbeaten 46 that featured three
fours and two sixes.In the 20th over, the 28-year-old thumped a six over
long-on and in the next dispatched slow left-armer Shem Ngoche out of
the ground. He struck the historic winning runs two balls later with a
four through mid-wicket.ÓI can't express my feelings," Nabi said. "It is
a very big day in my life. I'm sure there will be huge celebrations back
home. I'm happy for the people of Afghanistan and look forward to
playing in Australia and New Zealand." Coach Kabir Khan said: "I had
very few great and memorable days in my life and this is right up there.
It has been a dream for so many years and now we have achieved it.ÓThere
will be tremendous atmosphere in Afghanistan and I'm so happy for them.
This year they'll get two Eids [Muslim holidays] to celebrate.ÓFans took
to the streets of Kabul after the win and could hardly contain their
excitement when speaking to the BBC.
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