Afghans shock cricket pundits, then return to heroes welcome
Kabul, Afghanistan (AFP) Hundreds of dancing, flag-waving Afghan fans
Friday gave a heroes' welcome to their cricket team as they arrived home
after a triumphant tour of Zimbabwe.
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Members of the Afghan cricket team carry the trophy as they
sit atop a car on their return after winning the bilateral
tournament against Zimbabwe, in Kabul on October 30, 2015.
Hundreds of Afghan cricket fans welcomed the national
cricket team home at the airport in Kabul -- after their
first major series win against full member Zimbabwe in
50-over format and T20 matches held in Zimbabwe. AFP PHOTO
AREF KARIMI |
Afghanistan sealed a historic first on Wednesday with a 2-0 Twenty20
series victory over Zimbabwe and last Saturday became the first
Associate nation to defeat a Test-playing country in a one-day series
with a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe.
The victories offered a rare glimmer of good news in a nation beset
by decades of war and which was recently hit by a catastrophic
earthquake that left 121 people dead and thousands of homes damaged.
A traditional Attan folk dance erupted at Kabul's international
airport on Friday as hundreds of fans gathered to welcome the team.
"Our players performed exceptionally well, making the whole country
proud," said Saeed Kamal, a 19-year-old student, sporting a headband
featuring the Afghan national flag.
"We want our team to bring more laurels by beating other top sides in
the world."
Afghan Cricket Board chairman Nasimullah Danish also praised the team
led by skipper Asghar Stanikzai.
"This represents a momentous victory for our nation," he said. "You
have shown the world that we are no less than any other big team in the
world."
-AFP
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