Shahidi hits back at Pakistan? Dedicates WC win to Afghan Refugees
Pakistan is currently home to more than four million Afghan migrants and refugees, and around 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees have been asked to leave the country.
Afghanistan cricket team recently won a crucial match Cricket World Cup match against Holland, and its captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, dedicated the victory to the Afghan refugees who are going through a difficult time in Pakistan.
Pakistan is currently home to more than four million Afghan migrants and refugees, and around 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees have been asked to leave the country.
Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed empathy for the struggles of these refugees and said the team saw videos of their plight and wanted to dedicate the victory to them. He also mentioned that he had recently lost his mother, so winning is a great achievement for his family and his country.
The Afghan cricket team has performed well in the World Cup and is on a three-game winning streak, putting it in the race for the semi-finals. This achievement is significant and means a lot to the Afghan people.
Around 50 Afghan fans celebrated their team’s success in Lucknow. In particular, they wanted to win against Pakistan because of the treatment of Afghan refugees there. Wakil Ahmad, a student, said that winning against Pakistan would be like winning the World Cup and that the treatment of Afghan refugees is inhumane according to Indian Express.
Read also
Afghanistan cricket team consists mainly of Afghan refugees
Opener Ibrahim Zadran, named player of the match against Pakistan, dedicated his performance to the Afghan refugees. He mentioned that the team’s success has brought smiles back to the faces of people in Afghanistan and that his main goal is to make his countrymen happy.
Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, stressed that the players know very well the problems of their country, such as the refugee crisis. He highlighted the joy and smiles that the team brings to the Afghan people, both in the locker room and throughout the country.
Trott, a native of England and South Africa, mentioned that he is learning about the game from a different perspective and culture in Afghanistan, which has been a unique experience for him.
Assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai, who was born in a refugee camp in Pakistan, expressed his pain over the refugee crisis in Pakistan.
He grew up playing cricket in the refugee camp and understands the harsh conditions refugees face, such as movement restrictions, lack of proper clothing, food and clean water. The Afghan cricket team is grateful for the opportunity to represent their country and make a positive impact.
