If global cricket fans are asked to name the team that has shown the highest degree of improvement, the unanimous answer coming would be Afghanistan. A country once torn by war, grief and refugee crisis now rejoices the game more than anything else. And to support the sentiments of joy in their masses, the Afghanistan national cricket team makes it sure that the fans are never running out of joy. The way the Afghan team pose a threat to the most tough teams in world cricket, its only a matter of time that they evolve victorious against the big teams.

The team which was new to Division 1 cricket, was considered to be an underdog just a decade back. Their passion even then was commendable, but their abilities were a matter of question. Growing slowly and steadily, the youngsters of the nation took up the challenge, and the team rose up the ranks quickly. A team which found difficult to defeat associate nations once, posed a threat to world champions Australia in the World Cup 2023, giving them an exit scare. And yesterday they challenged a full strength Indian squad pouring their sweat and blood till the very last moment. And seeing this gives immense joy to anyone who loves the game.

The rise of Afghanistan is one of the finest stories of grit, determination and tremendous passion for the game, and it will continue to inspire associate nations to rise up the ranks, and also for the established nations to work on their game even better. Interestingly enough, the two arch rivals, India as well as Pakistan, both have their fair share in helping the Afghanistan team reach to the level it enjoys today. And today the ACB stands at the level where they are self sufficient to take their game up and above, soaring new heights.

Till the last decade of 20th century the game was far away from the country, with absolutely no signs of it. Cricket was popularised by British in the countries which they colonized, and Afghanistan was never a British colony(or any colony for that matter). It was only when the Afghan refugees seeked refuge in Pakistan, that the Afghan kids were fascinated by the Pak boys playing with a ball and something made of wood. And with their developed fascination, the kids grew up to be boys, who played the game along with the Pakistan boys. Fortunately for them, Pakistan supported the idea of Afghani Pathans playing with them. And that's exactly where the transition began.

The powerful arms of the Afghan hands cleared the boundaries with ease, and the strong genes allowed them to generate good pace, which was polished by Pakistan coaches. The PCB also allowed the Peshawar stadium facilities to Afghan cricket loving refugees, and further allowed them to participate in the Quaid-E-Azam Trophy. Playing in the domestic circuit of Pakistan alongside the proven international level match winners , helped the Afghans hone their skills and adapt to the game better. The support of Pakistan initially was so great for them, that the first batch of International Afghanistan team which played were all born and raised in Pakistan.

Pakistan gave them structure, and their own passion for the game gave them the spirit to get better with every game. The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995, and fortunately cricket was not in the list of banned sports in Taliban ruled Afghanistan, as it didn't involve any physical contact. And with all these conditions favourable for them, their youngsters took the challenge which posed them at the grandest level of the game. It took some time for them to play competitive game, but when they started, they never looked back. Quickly transitioning from Division 5 cricket to Division 1 cricket within a span of just a decade, they made their intentions pretty clear.

In process they beat numerous countries, which most of the fans are not even aware about. Which is why when the world got to know about the astonishing feat of Mohammad Nabi defeating 43 teams, they were left awestruck. While the Divisions of cricket got upgraded, the country found its joy in the game, and they hoped for a World Cup participation, when their 2011 hopes were shattered as they failed to qualify. But it did the trick to gain interest of the richest board in cricket. And Indian Board helped the Afghan team by providing them a home stadium, which, to this date is the HPCA stadium at Dharamshala. Furthermore, BCCI helped their Afghan brothers achieve test status and arranged the first ever test series for Afghanistan against India.

Seeing their senior team dwell well at the international stage, kids in the valleys and meadows took their cricket kits out. And then world saw the likes of Rashid Khan lit up the international stage with his deadly leg spin. And yet again, India came forward to help these young talented bunch of Afghan youngsters by giving them a well deserved chance to play in the IPL. Along with Rashid Khan, few other Afghan players got a chance to play in the Indian Premier League, giving them ample time and opportunity to flourish and evolve in their game. The exposure helped Afghanistan cricket grow rapidly, and it seeded a whole new generation of cricketers to come.

Going a step ahead, the ACB sought help of best guidance from abroad, which helped make lot of technical changes in the way their game was played. Known for their power in shots, they replaced it with some great technique. Hence, one saw a transition of Afghan openers being two hard hitters Mohammad Shahzad and Hazratullah Zazai, to the two technically sound batters in the form of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. And so did they with their bowlers, replacing sheer pace, with a deadly combination of pace and discipline. And their spinners were always the best. A cumulative result of all these together, along with their unparalleled love for the game is their team's uplifted performance at the international level.

It's a great sight to watch the Afghan team challenge the most threatening teams in their own backyard. Even a person remotely watching the game can clearly tell that going ahead the Afghanistan cricket will prosper even more and be in the list of one of the top teams to have played the game. A decade ago, people who called them underdogs, now wholeheartedly applauding their performance is a testimony of what the Afghanistan cricket team has achieved. From only 1 win in world cup history, to 4 wins in the 2023 World Cup, the exponential improvement graph of the Afghan team is visible, and it has a lot more to achieve. The team made cricket popular in their country, and cricket made their countrymen smile from the hearts. Which is why, the country who was devastated by bombs, now only sees smiles and pride in the lush green and beautiful valleys and meadows because of the gentlemen's game. And there exactly lies the success of the game which tells of what a game can do. The rise of Afghanistan is a proof of it, and it will continue to inspire million going ahead.