Taliban supports Afghan national cricket team

[Afghanistan2010]

Kabul, Feb 11: Known for their threats and violent attacks, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid called up the Afghanistan Cricket Board to convey a message of support to the Afghanistan national cricket team before their one-dayer against neighbours Pakistan in Sharjah.

Afghanistan were playing their first ODI against a Test-playing nation which they expectedly lost by seven wickets but not before winning hearts with their gritty display.

"President (Hamid) Karzai is watching and has phoned several times to get the latest news. Even the opposition Taliban have sent a message of support. Their spokesman said we are praying for the success of the team," said Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Omar Zakhilwal, who is also the Minister of Finance.

"Cricket is not just a game for us. We have had so much bad news in Afghanistan. But cricket - and this game against Pakistan - has brought good news for the people of a country who have suffered so much in the past. This is a proud day.”

"There is nothing that can touch cricket in popularity or as a force for good in Afghanistan. There is absolutely nothing else that mobilises our society in the same way. Not politics, political events or reconstruction," he added.

" I am personally a fan of cricket, I will follow this match closely,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told AFP prior to the match.

Asked which side he would support, given reported backing for the insurgents from within Pakistan, he replied: "I pray that Afghans come out as winners."

Afghanistan have no more ODIs against Full Member nations.

"The top teams shy away from playing us. I suppose they feel the benefits of beating us are small but the pain of losing to us would be great. We are pushing India, Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for games as only by playing them can we improve and take cricket to the next step in our country," Zakhilwal said.

"The story of cricket in Afghanistan only started about ten years ago when people returned from the refugee camps in Pakistan. But there is something about the game that seems to appeal to the psyche of the Afghan people. It has created a sense of unity and happiness that has brought people together. This match is breaking the ice. But we want to be part of the big club," he added.

ThatsCricket

[JattApache]

This is a good initiative.

I wanted that Afghanistan won this match, but don't worry, there will be a revenge

I would really like to watch more matches of the afghan national team

[Khostai]

LOL they are using tweeter, facebook and now they support cricket. All of them are the inventions of the evil Kafir westerners LOL,

[Afghanistan2010]

Coffee is a muslim invention from the 15th century yet all the "kaffirs" use it. LOL
In chemistry widely inventions recorded in early history were made by muslims "Jābir ibn Hayyā".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._Islamic_world

[Soldat_Amir]

They are doing it for publicity otherwise only a very naive and stupid person would fall for this. When the Taliban murder innocent Afghans, teachers, professors, send suicide bombers to markets, where is their support for Afghanistan in that or when the Taliban kill construction workers, chop the nose of little girls, kidnap Hazara women as use them as concubines.....where is the love for Afghanistan in that.

Nobody likes the Taliban so they are using the match as a tool to win over support.

Was it not the Taliban who banned kite running and also placed restrictions on sports because they were too westernised and would keep people away from the deen.

Taliban your fate will come soon!

[Khostai]

Coffee is a muslim invention from the 15th century yet all the "kaffirs" use it. LOL
In chemistry widely inventions recorded in early history were made by muslims "Jābir ibn Hayyā".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._Islamic_world

Yes but Kafirs are kafirs they use anything they also let there women strip naked in clubs should muslim do the same :S

[Afghanistan2010]

Yes but Kafirs are kafirs they use anything they also let there women strip naked in clubs should muslim do the same :S

Why can't you enjoy the good things that are present,and avoid the negatives.

Who can say one should not use facebook,tweeter,car,plane ...all inventions some of the disbelievers some of the muslims.

Who gave you the permission to judge over the taliban if they should use it or not.

[Khostai]

^Becuase when they ruled they judged us and said what we must and not use. So now we can judge them too. It just irritate me how hypocrite they are. Once they were baning anything that had conection whith the western world and now they are using it them selfs. They baned music, tv, videos and burned books so we have to forget all of that just becuase of this propoganda.

[Ghundal]

Pants are made by Muslims

You should stop wearing them Khostai

Facebook was made by Jews and Asian nerds

Twitter was also made by some Asian nerds

Playstation was made by Japanese

OIL belongs to Muslims


So stop driving cars, and using planes

In fact, stop using electricity and heating up your homes

[Khostai]

^First off all pants were warn first by peopel from middel east before they became muslim.
Jews and asian are also western culturaly
Again Asian are also Kafir and imitates western culture what Taliban really hate
Japanese could only make playstation just becuase again the westerners invented chips and software for the computers
Yes muslim have oil but the westerners are making the cars and making that oil usebal.
And whats your point? I am not against western culture, its just like any other culture in this world. I don't ban there stuf and later use it for my own benefit. Only a hypocrit do this kind of stuf.

And by the way I have nothing against westerners I live in a western country.
Your budys the talib monkeys and you hate them but still live in one of there countrys.
The talib baned everything that had an association whith Europe or America or any other Western country, but now they are suddenly supportive.
Are you really that dum to belive in this pice of ****y propoganda.

[IamDZJ]

way to **** everything.
i m eating a muffin. DO TALIBAN SUPPORT MUFFIN EATERS?!
i m drinking tea. WAS TEA INVENTED BY JEWS?!

[faye]

the taliban are probbly delighted about all these new sports arenas in afghanistan. i am sure they will find some good uses for them, apart from cricket, that is.

[Talal]

you guys need to chill down and enjoy it for what it is .. ' a game '

If the talibs do support the game, it can be a beacon of hope for Afghanistan's future..a slightly mellow talib regime couldn't be all that bad

[Alchemist]

Taliban your fate will come soon!

By whose hands?

Yours?
Your british Raj?

[emkhan]

Taliban are coming in power again inshallah. soldat and khostai kaka are very afraid of this.
Cheers Taliban zindabad. Long live Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban.