Young Afghan team shows cricket as a tool for peace

An indication of the popularity of cricket across the entire Afghan community has been the reaction to the national under 19 cricket team returning to Afghanistan after winning the Asian Cricket Council Elite Cup and qualifying for the International Cricket Council U19 World Cup in 2014. 

Cricket’s popularity, the Afghanistan Cricket Board says, is continuing to grow and is a valuable tool for peace and development in the country.

The young team was welcomed home by a large crowd at the Kabul International Airport, with almost every Afghan media outlet in Kabul present. A dinner was hosted at the Serina Hotel by EtisalatAfghanistan, the first major sponsor of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

The vision of the ACB is: “To make cricket the most popular sport in Afghanistan contributing to peace, unity and development.” The euphoria generated across the country by every victory indicates that cricket may already be the most popular sport and, as such, certainly has the potential to be an influence for peace, unity and development.

“We may not be members of parliament or government officials,” Dr Noor Mohammad Murad said earlier this week, “but we certainly have the support of a broad and very large part of the Afghanistan community. We can use this popularity to make a difference.”

“Cricket is more than a game for us,” he continued, “This under 19 team, which is doing so well, shows what cricket can do for the young people who make up more than 70% of the population of our country. The spirit of cricket, its values of respect and fair play can change the lives of young people and they can change life in Afghanistan for the better.

“Nothing else is bringing Afghans together in this way – cricket now has a unique position in Afghanistan.”

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team.]

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