Cricket’s Melody Echoing Across Kabul to Khost

After Afghanistan’s historic win over England in the World Cup, the atmosphere in Kabul was extraordinary. Hikmat Hassan, who used to work with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, found it hard to put into words. He compared the vibe to the festive atmosphere of Eid night. People in his neighborhood and across Kabul came out of their houses and gathered in the squares. Similar scenes were seen in other parts of Kabul and big cities. Despite music being banned, people still celebrated, talking about cricket throughout the night and the next day.

In Khost, a city 150 kilometers southwest of Kabul, the silence of music was replaced by the chatter about cricket. This city is the hometown of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the player-of-the-match against England. When he knocked over Joe Root and Chris Woakes, the city buzzed with excitement. Hikmat shared videos showing people, especially children, discussing cricket on the streets.

This victory brought immense joy to a nation facing internal issues, including recent earthquakes causing loss of lives and homes. Asghar Afghan, the former Afghanistan captain, emphasized the team’s potential to bring smiles to people’s faces and change the mood of the country. He noted that the more they win, the brighter the atmosphere becomes in Afghanistan.

For Afghan players like Mujeeb, Delhi’s stadium felt like home, where they were warmly received, even comforting young Indian fans. The unity brought by cricket, witnessed in discussions on streets at night, made people forget their sorrows for a while. The joy of victory in both Kabul and Khost was akin to the festive spirit of Eid.

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