The Taliban thanked India for helping Afghanistan make history by making it to the 2024 T20 World Cup semifinals. The team captained by Rashid Khan is only the 10th country in history to advance to the last four of a World Cup of cricket (50 or 20 overs). In Trinidad, Afghanistan will play South Africa.
Taliban expressed gratitude to India for helping Afghanistan’s cricket industry flourish through the Afghan Cricket Board.
The Afghanistan cricket team made history in the 2024 T20 World Cup by making it to the semi-finals of the major competition. The Taliban lavished praise on India for this achievement.
For the first time ever, the team captained by Rashid Khan advanced to the last four of an ICC competition.
Afghanistan became just the 10th side in history to make it to the semifinals of a Cricket World Cup (ODI or T20), just two decades after joining the International Cricket Council (ICC) as an affiliate member. The country’s journey from South Asia has been nothing less than a fantastical story.
It is important to keep in mind that India has contributed significantly to Afghanistan’s development by providing them with infrastructural and financial help. The Taliban conveyed their appreciation for India’s assistance in Afghanistan’s journey.
“We are thankful for India’s continuous help in capacity building of the Afghan Cricket Team. We really appreciate that,” Taliban’s Head of the Political Office, Suhail Shaheen told one of the News channel.
Scenes in 🇦🇫 🎉 pic.twitter.com/qWi6kMVAVI
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For those who don’t know, Afghanistan’s national team has used India as one of its home grounds even though the nation does not currently host international cricket matches. Afghanistan has previously participated in a few matches in the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, and the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.
Afghanistan is supposed to play Bangladesh in a three-match ODI and T20I series on Indian soil next month. The games would take place at Green Park Stadiums in Noida and Kanpur.
The Indian government provided a $1 million grant in 2014, which made it possible to build the Kandhar International Cricket Stadium. A few Indian businesses have also supported the Afghanistan cricket squad over the years.
Afghan athletes frequently compete in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). Notable players from Afghanistan include Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmed, Mujeeb Ahmed, and Gulbadin Naib.
On Saturday, June 29, in Barbados, India and Afghanistan may square off in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.
