Story of Afghanistan’s magical run: From chopper fallen on cricket field to team taking flight in World Cup
“Ye aaj subah hi gira hai (This has fallen down in the morning)’, Mirwais Ashraf pointed his finger towards an American chopper, a Sikorsky, lying on the ground where Afghanistan cricket used to train,” Rashid Latif, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper recalls to The Indian Express.
Latif was appointed as the first head coach of Afghan cricket in 2010. Mirwais Ashraf is now the chairman of the country’s cricket board, and as per Latif, he is working tirelessly to develop the cricketing infrastructure in the country.
“Mirwais made his debut under me. We are still in touch, he is driven to make cricket popular in Afghanistan. The first generation, who I coached, grew up in a refugee camp in Peshawar after Russia’s invasion. The current lot are the victims of the Taliban war. The passion and the team spirit was always there. It was the same a decade ago as well,” recollects Latif.
