It is a photograph to remember – hundreds of Afghans crowding the streets of Jalalabad on Tuesday, transfixed by coverage of their country’s cricket team on the way to make history by reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup for the first time courtesy of a win over Bangladesh. For a country too often depicted through stereotypes – gun-toting Taliban fighters or impoverished cities and villages – this was a view of the real Afghanistan: a diverse country proud of its identity and achievements.
And what an achievement this has been; a team of cricketers scattered from their homeland by war, taking on the world’s best and winning. Afghanistan have in recent years performed consistently well at global competitions, but their defeat of cricketing powerhouse Australia on Sunday and their semi-final spot have a significance that goes well beyond sport, having been forged years before in the fires of adversity.
The National this week reported how, in May 2003, just after Australia had won the Cricket World Cup for the third time, a trial was held in Kabul to set up an Afghan team. The aspiring players were newly returned from exile in Pakistan, where they had learnt their hosts’ favourite sport while living in refugee camps. In subsequent years, the side established itself as a cricketing force in a process that was collaborative, with significant assistance coming from countries such as England, India and the UAE.
Indeed, many in the Emirates have been cheering on the Afghans. This is unsurprising, given the deep ties that have been built between the cricketing fraternities of each country. Several Afghan players live in the UAE; Sharjah Cricket Academy has in excess of 40 registered players of Afghan origin; Abu Dhabi has hosted many of the side’s international matches; and Dubai has been the scene of many of their most important successes, such as the side’s first qualification for a major tournament in 2010. The UAE is also home to a large Afghan community, in the hundreds of thousands.
Regardless of how this team’s journey ends – they will take on South Africa on Thursday for a spot in the final – this has already been a win for the Afghan people, who for too long have had precious little to cheer about. This is not to suggest that a sporting victory can make up for years of bitter conflict and turmoil, or solve the devastating economic crisis gripping the country. On Sunday, the UN will host a third conference in Doha aimed at tackling some of the nation's many remaining challenges: international restrictions on Afghanistan’s banking and financial systems that frustrate hopes of an economic recovery, the continuing threat from extremist groups and the persistent problem of drug trafficking.
The fate of the Afghan women’s team is an additional reminder that all is not well in the country. After the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the new regime banned the side from playing as part of the militants’ general repression of women. Women and girls continue to be denied the right to take part not only in sports, but in education and the workplace – an intolerable situation that must change.
Despite such unfair policies, one should not dismiss sport’s power to lift people and restore national pride. The Atlas Lions carried the hopes of many in the Arab world with their spectacular run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and trailblazing Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur has been an inspirational figure for countless young people in North Africa and further afield. For Afghanistan’s cricketers, this is a moment to be savoured but also built upon, dispelling cliches about their homeland and showing that nothing is impossible.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The%20Super%20Mario%20Bros%20Movie
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UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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The 12
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
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The%20Afghan%20connection
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
NEW%20PRICING%20SCHEME%20FOR%20APPLE%20MUSIC%2C%20TV%2B%20AND%20ONE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20Music%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410.99%20(from%20%249.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.99%20(from%20%2414.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EIndividual%20annual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24109%20(from%20%2499)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20TV%2B%3Cbr%3EMonthly%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%246.99%20(from%20%244.99)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAnnual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2469%20(from%20%2449.99)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EApple%20One%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20individual%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2416.95%20(from%20%2414.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20family%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2422.95%20(from%20%2419.95)%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMonthly%20premier%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2432.95%20(from%20%2429.95)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Suad%20Amiry%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pantheon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20304%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SECRET%20INVASION
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ali%20Selim%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Samuel%20L%20Jackson%2C%20Olivia%20Coleman%2C%20Kingsley%20Ben-Adir%2C%20Emilia%20Clarke%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Baniyas Group 2 (PA) Dh 97,500 (Dirt) 1,400m.
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,400m
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 1,200m
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh 85,000 (D) 2,000m
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)
Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
