Cricket brings joy to war-torn Afghanistan

The success of Afghanistan’s national cricket team has helped bring the game to wider masses. Swedish journalist Ivar Andersen writes in the Guardian about how a concrete pitch set up by a charity is giving rise to a new generation of players.

The concrete pitch has been constructed at the far end of Faqrullah's schoolyard. It isn't big enough to contain an entire cricket ground, so all the overs have to be delivered from one end during matches. Faqrullah's PE teacher also serves as the team's coach. However, that title is mainly ceremonial, one of his colleagues explains in confidence. Cricket is, to a large extent, the sport of the young generation of Afghans, and as far as tactics and techniques go, the students often know more than their teachers. Over time that will change.