V.K. SANTOSH KUMAR
Under pressure, Afghanistan capitulated against Australia at the cricket World Cup in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Like how they fell apart against Singapore in a World Cricket League Division Five match in Jersey in 2008.
After the match was reduced to 30 overs due to rain, Singapore totalled 145 in 29.3 overs. Afghanistan then collapsed to 76 all out in 20.2 overs.
Former Singapore captain Chetan Suryawanshi said: “Afghanistan were the favourites to win the tournament and they played well. But against us, they suffered a blip.
“We could see that they were deeply affected by the loss. The whole team was in tears, they sat in the dressing room for three hours.”
Mohammad Nabi top-scored for Afghanistan with 26. The 38-year-old is the only player from the 2008 team who is playing in the current World Cup.
Singapore finished third after the league stage, on equal points with Afghanistan but with a lower net run rate. Afghanistan went on to beat Jersey by two wickets in the final, which launched their incredible rise in world cricket.
The Afghans found entry to the T20 World Cup in 2010, played their first one-day international against a Test nation in 2012, made their 50-overs World Cup debut in 2015 and featured in their first Test in 2018.
Afghanistan currently rank No. 10 in the world. Singapore’s ranking is 36th.
“Even in Jersey I could see that they were determined to reach the top,” said Chetan.
“They did not have proper equipment, so I gave them a few bats and gloves. In return, they gave me 4kg of dry fruits.
“Only Nabi looked technically sound, but the others were aggressive. They had no fear, and were ready to take on any fast bowler.”
Chetan recounted an incident in 2007 at the MRF academy in Chennai when helmetless Afghan batsman Karim Sadiq faced Australian tearaway Mitchell Johnson in the nets. “I asked Karim how he dared to face Johnson without a helmet. He pulled up his trousers and showed me his leg, which had gunshot scars. He said: ‘If I can survive that, a cricket ball is nothing.’”
Former Singapore captain Munish Arora, who played against Afghanistan in a T20 qualifier in Dubai in 2009, said the Afghans “can chase down 300 and defend 100”.
“It was their passion and fighting spirit that led them to gaining ODI status ahead of all other big associate nations, and it is their determination to excel at the highest level that kept West Indies out of this World Cup and forced Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to qualify,” said Munish.
“Their middle order used to be a problem with constant collapses, but their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi has shored up things. And with a potent spin attack of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed, Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, they could very well qualify for the World Cup semi-finals.”
If Afghanistan beat South Africa today and other results turn out in their favour over the next few days, they might face India in the semi-fnal.
Singapore umpire Sarika Prasad, who has watched the Afghans progress over the past 18 years, reckons that they are fully capable of pulling off a surprise. “It has been tough for them with the Taliban rule and wars, but they are a steely lot. They do not have good training facilities at home, and play their international matches in Dubai and India. With the support of the Indian and Nepal boards, they have achieved a lot.
“The Taliban supports men’s cricket and the team and more than 3,000 supporters turn up to cheer them at every match. The Afghans won’t give up without a fight. They play hard and are a treat to watch.”
