Hero�s welcome for Afghan team

AFP, KABUL: Hundreds of dancing, flag-waving Afghan fans Friday gave a heroes' welcome to their cricket team as they arrived home after a triumphant tour of Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan sealed a historic first on Wednesday with a 2-0 Twenty20 series victory over Zimbabwe.
And last Saturday Afghanistan became the first Associate nation to defeat a Test-playing country in a one-day series with a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe.
The victories offered a rare glimmer of good news in a nation beset by decades of war and which was recently hit by a catastrophic earthquake that left 121 people dead and thousands of homes damaged.
A traditional Attan folk dance erupted at Kabul's international airport on Friday as hundreds of fans gathered to welcome
the team.
“Our players performed exceptionally well, making the whole country proud,” said Saeed Kamal, a 19-year-old student, sporting a headband featuring the Afghan national flag.
“We want our team to bring more laurels by beating other top sides in the world.”
Afghan Cricket Board chairman Nasimullah Danish also praised the team led by skipper Asghar Stanikzai. “This represents a momentous victory for our nation,” he said.

 

Hero�s welcome for Afghan team

AFP, KABUL: Hundreds of dancing, flag-waving Afghan fans Friday gave a heroes welcome to their cricket team as they arrived home after a triumphant tour of Zimbabwe. Afghanistan sealed a historic first on Wednesday with a 2-0 Twenty20 series victory over Zimbabwe. And last Saturday Afghanistan became the first Associate nation to defeat a Test-playing country in a one-day series with a comprehensive win over Zimbabwe. The victories offered a rare glimmer of good news in a nation beset by decades of war and which was recently hit by a catastrophic earthquake that left 121 people dead and thousands of homes damaged. A traditional Attan folk dance erupted at Kabuls international airport on Friday as hundreds of fans gathered to welcome the team. Our players performed exceptionally well, making the whole country proud, said Saeed Kamal, a 19-year-old student, sporting a headband featuring the Afghan national flag. We want our team to bring more laurels by beating other top sides in the world. Afghan Cricket Board chairman Nasimullah Danish also praised the team led by skipper Asghar Stanikzai. This represents a momentous victory for our nation, he said.