Why is Afghanistan still celebrating Chennai win & Pakistan having a meltdown? Answer is complex
This story first appeared in ThePrint
The answer is embedded in the bitter history that Afghanistan and Pakistan share.
From Kabul to Kolkata, Kunduz to North Carolina, Afghans all over the world are still celebrating the victory of their cricket team over Pakistan in the ICC World Cup match in Chennai Monday, as if there’s no tomorrow. Although, they play Sri Lanka in Pune on 30 October, and just for a split second, imagine, if they win, they will be just one more win away from possibly entering the semi-finals.
In Chennai on Monday, the ninth and last day of Durga Puja, on Mahanavami, the goddess obviously decided to shower her blessings on the boys in blue from Afghanistan. As the drummers beat their dhaks, and makeshift temple bells rang all over the country heralding the devi, the bells were really tolling for the Pakistan cricket team.
Even those, like me, who aren’t crazy aficionados of the game were completely captivated. Clearly, this wasn’t just cricket but the sighs of a nation long suppressed. For a start, the former Islamic Republic’s red, green, and black flag fluttered everywhere in the MA Chidambaram stadium, not the black-and-white shahada of the Islamic Emirate that rules Afghanistan today. And, before the match, it was the national anthem of the former Republic that was played in the stadium.
As Afghanistan celebrated, including with gunfire, after the match was won against Pakistan, even the Taliban were forced to recognise that this was a special moment.
“We congratulate the national cricket team, cricket board, and all Afghans on this victory,” said Maulvi Abdul Kabir, political deputy prime minister of Afghanistan. “This competition showed that Afghan youths are capable in any field and can win. We wish them more success.”
Kabir knew he was treading on delicate ground. The Afghanistan women’s cricket team has practically disappeared — its players have either fled abroad or gone underground – like most other women’s sports and activities, including the public education of girl children beyond Class V.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is still contemplating whether or not to remove Afghanistan as a member, as a sign of its displeasure with the Taliban’s treatment of women’s cricket. But that would also effectively mean that Afghanistan’s men will be banned from playing international matches.