Theirs is not a story of some heroes and their heroics. It's about some pretty ordinary individuals, who loved playing cricket. They had to fight. But their passion and hope took them ahead. From a bunch of amateurs, they have become professionals who are now able to brush shoulders with top players of world cricket. They represent their nation's urge to get out of the shackles, which some fanatics put them in, due to the deadly mix of politics and religion. They just played cricket, with their heart. And the result is that they play in 2010 Twenty20 Cricket WorldCup. Their first round exit is so likely, but no other team would be as spirited as this bunch.
"Out of the ashes" is a documentary film made about their amazing journey in International Cricket. Only a trailer can be found there.
Please find an excerpt from the article in Cricinfo, dated April 8, 2009, about the documentary film, which talks a lot about the team too.
Most members of the team were introduced to cricket when they heard the firing of celebratory gunshots in the refugee camps when Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992. The team has overcome war and poverty to get where they are today. Cricket began in a dusty refugee camp with a tennis ball. Most in the team have lost family members to war. When the Afghans almost lost Division Three against the Cayman Islands in Argentina, Hameed Hassan, the fast bowler, came off of the pitch in tears. When I asked him why he was crying, he said, "I have seen people die and I have not shed a tear. But there is something about cricket that gets me here [pointing to his heart]. Cricket is our chance."
Read the complete article on the film here.
Even though they have lost to India, we should celebrate their hope for future and spirit. It's a triumph of humanity. Respect. Pure Respect.
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