ICC World Cup 2023: Zeal to be admired!

It was a victory that came out of nowhere so to speak In 17 previous World Cup encounters from 2015 Afghanistan had surrendered 16 their lone victory coming against Scotland by one wicket in Dunedin eight and a half years back This World Cup campaign had started pretty much the same way with heavy defeats at the hands of Bangladesh and then IndiaAlso ReadProteas look to continue winning momentum v the NetherlandsThe cricketing misadventures were nothing compared to the series of earthquakes that devastated the nation claiming more than 3000 lives displacing many thousands more and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake For a country that has been reeling under violence for a long time and that has desperately been looking for a ray of sunshine amid the dark foreboding clouds Sundayrsquos shock win over England must have been overwhelmingly satisfyingTurn of eventsEngland the defending champions came into the contest expecting to roll Afghanistan over and few could have grudged them that expectation But in a dramatic turnaround in fortunes on an Arun Jaitley Stadium surface that was nowhere near the belter on which India decimated Afghanistan the Asian nation did what it does bestmdashput runs on the board and attack relentlessly with its threepronged spin attack of Mujeeb Ur Rahman Mohammad Nabi and Rashid KhanBetween them the trio picked up eight wickets as Afghanistan defended 284 with tigerish zeal eking out a 69run win in inarguably the shock of the tournament Just how much the result meant to the players was evident in their celebrationsmdashrespectful but not overthetop heartfelt and full of humilityImpressive blokesAfghanistan have established themselves as wholesome entertainers whose brand of cricket resonates around the world They are uninhibited and freespirited with the bat their style of play almost a throwback to the amateur era and they are more than a handful with the ball with a pronounced dependence on spin This win will not alter the world order in any tangible way but teams will be wary of Afghanistanrsquos threat especially when the latter bat first and so might be forced to change their own gameplans even when they donrsquot want toAfter the last wicket Mark Wood was fittingly plucked out by Rashid the talismanic legspinner spoke of his delight at putting a small smile on the faces of his countrymen and women in their terrible times of pain anguish and suffering Mujeeb the Player of the Match for the scalps of Joe Root Harry Brook and Chris Woakes dedicated the victory to the people of Afghanistan These werenrsquot token statements for the sake of it they were not public relations exercises Many of the Afghan cricketers donrsquot live in their own country but their heart still beats for Afghanistan and it is that sense of pride and brotherhood they will carry with them for the rest of the World Cup Their future opponents have been forewarned