Afghanistan Continues Cricket Victories, Looks Towards World Cup
Afghanistan's national cricket team claimed the World Cricket League Division Four title on Saturday in Tanzania, defeating Hong Kong and looking towards qualifying for the 2011 World Cup.
With this weekend's victory, Afghanistan will play in the Division Three contest in Argentina in January. If they place in the top two finishers there, they will qualify for the World Cup. In June, Afghanistan won the Division Five title on the English island of Jersey. Upon its return to Kabul, the team was greeted by hundreds of supporters and taken to the National Stadium for a ceremony.
Cricket is a relatively new phenomenon in Afghanistan, having been brought over by refugees that had lived in Pakistan. And though Afghanistan has no cricket stadiums, the national team has impressed many observers with its consistent level of play against more well-established competitors.
This year has seen a number of athletic victories for Afghanistan, including its first ever medal in the Olympic Games in Beijing. Rohullah Nikpai won a Bronze Medal in the 58 kg. taekwondo competition during the games in August.
