Afghans start a new chapter

A meteoric rise that belies the turmoil in their war-torn nation has seen Afghanistan gain a place, against all odds, at cricket's highest table. Boasting a cricketing culture blessed with sublime talent, Afghanistan were elevated to Test status in June last year. Less than a year later, they are on the cusp of their maiden 'home' series against a Test playing nation, Bangladesh, but as with most things in Afghan life, it is at best a bittersweet occasion because they are foreign hosts in a foreign land -- the northern Indian city of Dehradun, nearly a thousand kilometres away from Kabul.

"Of course, people back home are not happy as they wanted to host the game in their own country," said Bashir Stanikzai, the Afghanistan Cricket Board high performance manager, as he was busy with the final preparations at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium ahead of the three-match T20I series that will start on Sunday. "But everyone is aware of the situation in Afghanistan and why we're not able to host international matches but we have to find another home away from home. We are struggling here in terms of managing everything as we are new as a Test playing nation."

Cricket has changed perceptions of the war-torn nation, and their recent elevation to Test status is one more avenue for them to enhance their image.

According to Bashir, the likes of the world's number one T20I bowler Rashid Khan has stood as proof of the fledgling cricketing country's fund of talent.

"Rashid showed that the Afghan people have talent and they can perform on any platform; you can say that he has given a new face to Afghanistan cricket and even the whole nation. Cricket is the only positive thing in Afghanistan which gives happiness to the people and despite us struggling in other areas, we have done really well in cricket and sports. They are very famous -- the likes of Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman can't even go out roaming around the city [in Afghanistan] normally as people will come and gather to take photos," Bashir told The Daily Star.