Sports, Music, Literature, Poetry, Painting, Art, Architecture et al are pursuits which keep the people of a nation busy - latent talent finding ways of manifesting itself, attain name, fame and prosperity. In their absence irrelevant ideologies take over and play havoc with a nation and its people.
Afghanistan was known as the Switzerland of the East under King Zahir Shah who was toppled by his own cousin in 1973. Till then it was a peaceful nation for tourists.
It is the misfortune of that nation that it has been a victim of machinations of big powers. This rivalry has reduced it to rubble. A proud people with a great heritage, had their talents ruined and religion played a larger than life role in its destiny.
With all the grandstanding of its coach in the article above, one can only wish the Afghan people well. The result of the match would either bring to the Afghan team the distance it has to catch up or else the world will take notice of their hidden talent. Any which way one looks at it, the promotion of sports of all kinds - beginning with cricket - and other artistic talents would do a world of good to the Afghan nation and to south asia.
Wel-come to the Afghan team and best wishes to them.
Re: Welcome the Afghan Cricket Team
by sonali on Apr 30, 2010 04:33 PM
just wait & watch what is dhoni's young brigade & what is afgani coach & his team
Re: Re: Welcome the Afghan Cricket Team
by IMTIAZ KHAN on Apr 30, 2010 06:05 PM
Ravi krishnan - I do not carry any brief for Afghanistan, but they were a fine tourist nation prior to 1973.
You must have read about the Central Asian Great Game, now more than 100 years old. As a matter of fact, the region was a bone of contention between Czarist Russia and Imperial Britain long back, both had staked claim to Afghanistan.
The unfortunate part is that they form the outer gateway along with Pakistan to gigantic mineral and oil reserves of central asia. All major powers of the industrial revolution are interested in controlling that territory, and in their fight they have ruined that land.
Why does Pakistan want control over Afghanistan ? : 1. For Strategic depth against India and 2. By controlling Afghanistan it will be of critical importance to all the major industrial powers in the world by its ability to block future resources.
Re: I think this time it's South africa or Newzeland
by srinivas satyanarayan on Apr 30, 2010 03:10 PM
Even west indies have home advantage with players like pollard, Gayle, bravo etc..
Re: INDIA
by IMTIAZ KHAN on Apr 30, 2010 03:18 PM
Sonali - after this match, if a couple of talented Afghan players find their way into IPL; see the world of glitz, glamour, money, fame and competition; can you imagine what a world of a difference it would do to the psyche of the entire Afghan Nation and to Indo-Afghan relations.
Today, the only way they can dream of earning well is thru either the drug trade or fighting. If they find new ways of making money and integrating in the world, the psyche of the entire Afghan nation would be drawn away from Religion and Weapons.
Dont give importance to the words of the coach, he may be saying that either to keep the morale of his boys high or has still not seen the world.
Re: Re: Re: INDIA
by ratnakar on Apr 30, 2010 03:40 PM
I am thinking all bottom team player will try to perform better not only for nation but also to make attention of IPL Frenchiser where they might be selected forIPL 4 for huge money
thats what is called a challenge......come on takers i'm ready...good luck team afghan...but we are also ready,,,,we are team India.....thats why we are on top in cricket. lets have fun.
the best to the afghans! this is good for cricket and their country... Dhoni will be clinical as he always is , hope yuvraj and others follow suit and not make this match 'interesting' as they always do hahaha
