Triumph after turmoil: Afghanistan rises in cricketing world with dream T20 WC run

“Afghanistan have done it,” were the words iterated by the broadcasting official as the star pacer Naveen-ul-Haq managed to take the most important scalp of the match and make sporting history.

This victory affirmed the side’s progression to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024, a feat seemingly unachievable for a country that is undergoing socio-political turmoil.

A country with just a tad more than a decade of international cricketing experience managed to evict the cricketing giants, Australia, from the tournament.

Their historic run in this tournament also marked stellar victories against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and lastly, Bangladesh. A 10th-ranked T20I team in the ICC rankings, Afghanistan defeated teams ranked relatively higher than them.

Rise to glory, rise to the occasion

An even contender for clinching an ICC title this year, the team became an affiliate member in 2001. Thereafter, they became associate members in 2013 and only gained full membership in 2017.

The Asian side entered their first ICC main competition with the 2012 T20 World Cup. However, they faced a dreadful group-stage exit from the tournament.

Similar fates followed them in the 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2022 competitions of the format.

Their track record in the 2015, 2019, and 2023 ODI World Cups was similar.

On Nov 7, 2023, however, they came surprisingly close to defeating the team that went on to become champions, Australia. It was the masterclass innings of 201 not-out by Glenn Maxwell that stood between the Afghans and a potential semi-final berth that day.

Afghanistan’s run in the T20 WC

The divine scripts unveiled a new chapter unprecedented to all the analysts and experts in the field as Afghanistan registered a 21-run victory against Australia in the Super Eight clash.

Adding to their splendid run was a victory, from the brink of defeat, against a promising Bangladesh.

Afghanistan bagged 4 points in Group 1, second-best only to the table-toppers India.

Afghan players topped the table among the highest run- and wicket-takers of the tournament, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 281 runs and Fazalhaq Farooqi taking 16 wickets.

To the road less travelled…

Their semi-final tie will be against South Africa on June 27 (IST) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad’s Tarouba.

‘The Proteas’, who remained undefeated in the competition’s group stages, carry their dreadful knockout-stage curse.

On the other hand, Afghanistan faces its most crucial match in cricketing history, a game that could only be surpassed in significance by a berth in the final.