12
Afridi remains the top favourite player from either side. -File photo
SHARJAH: Expats from both Pakistan and Afghanistan thronged the Sharjah Stadium for the first-ever one-day international here on Friday, with the fans uncertain who to support for a win.
Afghanistan, who rose to gain one-day status in 2009, have played 18 one-day games against fellow Associate teams, but Friday’s match was their first against a top Test playing nation.
And for Pukhtoons, one of the major ethnic groups living in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan in the province of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, it was a dilemma who to support among a capacity holiday crowd of 15,000.
Pakistan’s Umar Gul, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi also speak the Pushtoon language.
“It’s no doubt an historic occasion,” said Gulbadeen Salami.
“I have lived half my life in Pakistan after fleeing there in 1979 so both are my countries.”
Most of the Afghanistan players learnt the game while living in refugee camps in Pakistan after they had to flee their country following the Russian invasion in 1979.
Pakistan also helped Afghanistan in setting up their cricket infrastructure and allowed their teams to play in their domestic competitions.
Hundreds of fans started their journey towards the stadium early, taking buses to the stadium from the adjoining states of the United Arab Emirates — home to millions of labourers from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Habibullah Khan, who works in a shop in Sharjah, said he will support Afghanistan.
“I love cricket and will support Afghanistan,” said Khan, holding a tri-colour Afghanistan flag.
“My favourite player is Mohammad Shazad, who hits sixes and is from my town — Paktika (one of 34 provinces in Afghanistan).”
But overall, Afridi remains the top favourite player from either side.
“We are supporting both the teams,” said Haji Malik from Kabul.
“I wish Afghanistan win this match but my favourite is Afridi, who lives in the hearts of all the Pukhtoons.”
Organisers hoped the sell-out crowd will induce more and more people to join the game in future.
“Sharjah has been home to cricket for many years now and this Pakistan-Afghanistan match will add to the charm, not only for the locals but also for the expats,” said Mazhar Khan, secretary of Sharjah Cricket Council.
The Council started Cricket Benefit Fund Series in 1980s which also supported former cricketers with cash benefits and has staged 201 one-dayers before this match — a world record in international cricket.
Despite being Pakhtoon,Pakistan first
Instead of Pakhtoon/Punjabi/muhajir/Sindhi/Balochi, how about muslim for a change? I thought that was the whole purpose of creating Pakistan.
Lets accept that it is not relevant now
May be the writer is not so much aware about the realities of trans Durandline. While being a Pakhtun and resident of Peshawar, I would like to highlight some ground realities, which i noticed while traveling to Afghanistan during post-taliban area. Although the Pakhtuns of both sides of the border speak the same dialect, but still there is a clear wedge between their emotions. Publicly the Afghan Pakhtuns are accepting their realities of being in Pakistan for a long time, while inside their hearts they hate Pakistani Pakhtuns and blame them for all their miseries they experienced at the hands of Pakistani Police. Once one cross Torkham border into Afghanistan then could notice a visible change in their collective attitude.
Secondly the pakhtuns of Pakistan know that they are Pakistanis and all their interests are associated with the progress and success of Pakistan. Only the so called nationalists of Pakhtunkhwa are dreaming of the past one nation belief.
There is nothing wrong to supporting your team as long as you don’t support on the basis of the language you speak.
If you are a Afghani,support Afghan Team.There is nothing wrong to it.I am a Pakistani and I always support my team loud and clear.
Well Afghans are our brothers.But this is sports.
Geo-political boundaries are man-made. People belonging to the same clan, same family live on either side of the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. But it's OK to have a friendly rivalry between the two countries. It's good for cricket.
Well I am a Pakistani Pukhtun but I support AFGHANISTAN. Afghanistan is the real home of Pukhtuns/Afghans.
Then maybe you should go and live in Afghanistan, if your loyalty is with that country.
I am not Pashtoon but i would support Afghanistan because they are underdogs in cricket.
Seems like the only dillema is for the Afghan Pukhtoons, not the Pakistani ones. Cuts through the nationalist propoganda of some characters.
Pukhtoon dilemma is no dilemma. I am Pukhtoon but I am Pakistani.
Similar will be the case with an Afghan with a Caveat. If you invade us than all bets are off.
NICE