Afghanistan's Bold Ambition-Shahidi Aims for Champions Trophy Glory

Afghanistan's cricket team has been making waves in international cricket, proving that they are not just participants but genuine contenders for major titles. With their skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, leading from the front, Afghanistan enters the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with a clear mission: to secure their first-ever ICC title.

A Journey of Growth and Success

The recent performances of Afghanistan in world tournaments have proved their potential. In the past two years, they have time and again established that they could compete with world-class teams. Their miraculous show in the 2023 India ODI World Cup, when they defeated three past champions, England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, proved their potential. In the United States and West Indies T20 World Cup, Afghanistan reached the semi-finals, further establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in world cricket.

The preparation of the team for the Champions Trophy has been nothing short of exceptional. They have won four successive ODI series, defeating Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe. These victories have given the team increased confidence and valuable match practice before the high-pressure tournament.

Aiming for the Ultimate Prize

Addressing the media before their first match against South Africa on February 21 in Karachi, Shahidi clarified Afghanistan's intentions. "We are not here to just play in this tournament. We are 100% looking to win this tournament," he said firmly.

Shahidi highlighted the team's experience and familiarity with the conditions, which he believes will work in their favor. “We have played a lot of quality cricket in the last two years, and the boys are now very experienced. The conditions here also suit us, so we have a great opportunity to make history. We will take it one game at a time, starting with a strong performance against South Africa,” he added.

Afghanistan will also take confidence from their recent series win against South Africa in Sharjah, where they emerged victorious 2-1. “That series win gives us confidence. We are not under pressure; we are focusing on what we can do in this tournament. The team is well-prepared and ready to make an impact,” Shahidi said.

Ignoring Off-Field Distractions

While Afghanistan's performances on the field have been impressive, political debates have often shrouded their cricketing progress. Recently, there was brouhaha over a potential boycott by some teams due to the Taliban's stance on women's cricket in Afghanistan. But Shahidi is confident that such issues will not take away anything from his team's focus.

“As sportsmen, our job is to play cricket. What happens outside the field is beyond our control, and it does not put us under pressure,” he stated. “The world recognizes that we have been performing well over the last three years. We can only control what happens inside the ground, and that is where our attention remains.”

The Future of Cricket in Afghanistan

Though there are security concerns that have not enabled international teams to visit Afghanistan, Shahidi is optimistic cricket will be staged in his country someday. "They say Afghanistan is not ready enough to host cricket, but this is completely not true," he claimed.

Shahidi added that they had well-established cricket facilities like academies and stadiums in principal regions like Kabul and Jalalabad. "We have a High Performance Centre, proper training venues, and stadiums in each region of Afghanistan. The sole reason why teams haven't yet arrived is because of security matters, but hopefully that will no longer be a factor. As soon as a team is ready to tour Afghanistan, people will come in such huge numbers that stadiums will be filled.".

The love for cricket among Afghans is undeniable. Shahidi noted that local cricket matches in Afghanistan attract huge crowds. "For domestic finals, we have over 50,000 spectators filling the grounds, with thousands more waiting outside. If an international side happens to visit and play, the response will be massive. Cricket is passionately loved in Afghanistan, and we are keen to host international matches in our country."

A Tough Group Stage Test

It is going to be tough going for Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy, with them starting Group B against South Africa on February 21. They will then take on two of the sporting superpowers in the form of England and Australia on February 26 and 28 in Lahore.

Despite the tough competition, Afghanistan enters the tournament with confidence, determination, and the belief that they can achieve something historic. With a balanced squad, strong recent form, and the fearless mindset instilled by their captain, they are prepared to take on the world's best.

As the tournament progresses, everyone will be looking at Afghanistan to determine if they can make their ambitious dream a reality. One thing is for sure—this team is not here to take part; they are here to create history.