If anyone calls Afghanistan a minnow, we now have to doubt that person’s understanding of cricket. Let’s all agree that as a team, Afghanistan have come a long way. Call them minnows at your own peril. They are here to write their own destiny and, in doing so, prove sceptics wrong. But for what was probably the greatest innings in World Cup history from Glenn Maxwell, they would have been within striking distance of a place in the World Cup semi-finals. A win against Australia, five-time champions, would have easily been the greatest achievement in Afghan sport. That they aren’t the first team that Australia have done this to will be scant consolation.
England, Pakistan and now, so nearly Australia. Scoring near 300 batting first and then reducing their illustrious opponents to 91-7. Millions of Afghans will go to sleep on Tuesday night thinking of the sitter that Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropped at short fine leg. That heart-breaking what-might-have-been moment could well be the difference between a memorable campaign and an unbelievable one.
They chased down 283 against Pakistan. This is no longer a team that can be labelled an also-ran that causes a few upsets. They have earned the right to sit at the top table and talk the language of the big boys. And when you think of the earthquake and all the troubles back home, the story has an unreal quality.
Not until Maxwell started to stand and deliver in the final ten overs did Australia look in control. Ibrahim Zadran was fantastic with the bat and played the innings of his life. With support from Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rashid Khan, Afghanistan did enough to bring their bowlers into play. In fact, they had more than a chance at halfway.
Whether the bowlers could step up was the question. Naveen-ul-Haq, who had already caused a stir ahead of the game with an Instagram post, rose to the occasion. He bowled the spell of the night, and all of a sudden Australia were on the mat. The cancellation of a series was being avenged, and every celebration was proof that it was more than a cricket match that was being played. Even when Mujeeb dropped Maxwell, the shoulders did not drop. The team were on a mission and determination was writ large on every Afghan face.
If it was Pakistan almost a fortnight ago, it was Australia’s turn to face the Afghan music in Mumbai. Pakistan’s total was a reasonable one, but never a total that put Afghanistan on the back foot. And the openers set the tone with some excellent batting. From there on, the Afghans did not look back. It was as if Shahidi and his boys could do no wrong, until they ran into Hurricane Maxwell. For a team that has had the difficulties back home to deal with, it can’t have been easy. Rashid Khan, for example, is very much involved with the earthquake relief work and raising money for the cause.
It is about the deep desire to win. The passion to never give up. The determination to leave a legacy, and be the best versions of themselves. Sport for Afghanistan is a salve. A balm for a troubled nation. And even if fleetingly, performances like the defeats of England and Pakistan and this fright given to Australia will bring smiles to people’s faces. Bring cheer to a society that has struggled with all the hardships nature has inflicted on them.
Had they managed to win here, it would have given Afghanistan unimaginable self-belief ahead of their last game against South Africa. An upset there, and they would have emulated Kenya’s feats in 2003. That it took such a special knock to thwart them will be the only solace for Jonathan Trott and the team.
Knowing Rashid well, one has to say that he will believe they can still sign off on a high. He, Shahidi and the other senior pros will do their best to lift the rest, and push them every bit of the way. By doing so, he won’t just be adding to his legacy. Semi-final or not, this has been quite the fairy tale. And the honest truth is that most Indian fans would have wanted it to continue.
Sachin Tendulkar visited the Afghanistan team on Monday. Maybe they will request him to pop in one more time ahead of the South Africa game. The master would be the first to tell them that there are days when you leave everything out on the field, and it still isn’t enough. Sometimes, you just have to take your hat off to the kind of genius Maxwell showcased even as his body threatened to fail him.
Win or lose, in agonising circumstances like today, Afghanistan remain the story of the World Cup. The underdog story we all love, and one that promised the greatest upset in World Cup history until shirt No. 32 decided to intervene.