KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban officers took to social media on Monday to congratulate the Afghan nationwide cricket staff for successful a match within the Twenty20 World Cup, however there was a muted response on the streets of Kabul the place such wins had been celebrated enthusiastically prior to now.
Afghanistan beat Scotland in a match performed in Sharjah within the United Arab Emirates – the primary main victory for the staff for the reason that Taliban takeover of the nation.
Whereas the Taliban frown on many types of public leisure, cricket has at all times been an exception, a sport fighters adopted carefully https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban-cricket-idUSKCN1RE01D even through the warfare at any time when the nationwide staff was taking part in.
“Congratulations to the staff and need them extra success sooner or later,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned on Twitter.
A spokesman for the Taliban’s Qatar workplace additionally joined within the reward, including: “We hope for related and even greater achievements in different fields, particularly within the political, financial and scientific fields.”
The best profile message got here from Anas Haqqani, the youthful brother of Afghanistan’s present appearing Inside Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani – the pinnacle of the Haqqani Community.
“Afghanistan gained,” the youthful Haqqani mentioned.
The Taliban’s representative-designate to the United Nations Suhail Shaheen tweeted: “Properly executed boys!”
Nevertheless, there was relative silence throughout Kabul, the place such victories had been beforehand met with jubilation within the streets, fireworks and celebratory gunfire. There have been only some, small fireworks seen within the Kabul sky.
The streets had been largely empty or silent.
The Taliban’s foes additionally noticed the victory as vital for the nation. Amrullah Saleh, the ex-vice president who grew to become one of many leaders of the anti-Taliban forces after the autumn of Kabul, identified on Twitter that the cricket staff had sung a nationwide anthem and raised a flag which aren’t recongnised by the Taliban.
President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the nation in August, mentioned the victory had “put in new hopes within the hearts of all that this nation is alive and nobody can maintain it hostage!”
Regardless of years of violence and upheaval, Afghanistan has an enthusiastic and widespread following of cricket and residents of Kabul had been eagerly anticipating the cricket world cup matches.
The governing Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) will meet subsequent month https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/afghanistan-seek-members-support-ahead-crucial-icc-meeting-2021-10-18 to find out the sport’s future in Afghanistan beneath the Taliban regime.
(Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Modifying by Toby Chopra)
