Afghanistan make triumphant return to international cricket with 130-run T20 World Cup win over Scotland

In the eight months since Afghanistan played their last game of international cricket, the Taliban have recaptured the country. Their return has precipitated a profound humanitarian crisis - many have been killed for working with the previous American regime, thousands of refugees have fled the country and, as repression against women has escalated, girls have been barred from attending schools.

Yet as Afghanistan’s jubilant players embraced in Sharjah after crushing Scotland by 130 runs in their opening World Cup match, it was a reminder of the other thing that Afghanistan has become renowned for, beside its painful history: cricket. In the 17 years since starting to play international cricket, Afghanistan have assembled a fine cricket team. On this evidence, it is one that has a very real chance of reaching the semi-finals in the T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan’s rise has largely been authored by their brilliant phalanx of spinners. So it was during their 2021 T20 World Cup debut, as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan shared figures of 9-29 against Scotland.

Both were beguiling. Mujeeb, a master of bowling in the Powerplay, spun the ball both ways while varying his pace, snared 5-20 with his array of off spin, carrom balls, leg spin and googlies. He is a bowler who defies normal characterisation, so most now simply go with mystery spinner.

It all meant that when Rashid Khan, the leading spinner in T20 today, came into bowl after the Powerplay Scotland were already 37-5. Still, Rashid took the chance to showcase his own mesmerising skills, finishing off Scotland with his own array of leg spinners, top spinners and googlies, generally delivered well over 60mph with impeccable accuracy. As Rashid took Scotland’s final two wickets in consecutive balls - Josh Davey with a leg break, and then Brad Wheal with a googly - he will be on a hat-trick when he begins his spell against Namibia next game.

Beyond this tournament, the future of Afghan cricket is uncertain. The International Cricket Council’s board will discuss the situation next month, with it possible that Afghanistan will be suspended because of the Taliban barring women from playing the sport; a women’s team is a requirement of being an ICC Full Member.

But in the World Cup itself, Afghanistan have the look of real contenders. While the brilliance of their spin attack has long been taken as a given, the way in which they compiled 190 gave notice of the threat they possess. The Afghan method is similar to that which has won the West Indies two of the last three T20 World Cups - focus on out-hitting their opponents.

As openers Hazratullah Zazai and Mohammad Shahzad took Afghanistan to 55-1 after the Powerplay - the highest Powerplay score all tournament - it was evidence of the power that Afghanistan possess. Yet they were shrewd in how they used it too; eight of the side’s 11 sixes were to the shorter boundary. Najibullah Zadran who top-scored with a brutal 59, was promoted to number four to ensure that Afghanistan could maintain a left-right partnership at the crease.

For Scotland, buoyed by their fine victory over Bangladesh to top their first round pool, this was a chastening result. It was a reminder of the rarefied standards to which they will be exposed in the Super 12 stage, playing against teams who the structure of international cricket allows them to meet far too seldom. Even a little misfortune - both Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington fell lbw to Mujeeb, when their reviews showed that the ball was only clipping the top of leg stump - provided scant mitigation for this evisceration.

The only consolation for Scotland, perhaps, is they will surely not be the last team to succumb to Afghanistan’s cocktail of six-hitting prowess and magnificent spin bowling this World Cup.

The story of Afghan cricket is already among the most remarkable in 21st Century sport. Now, amid tragedy and turmoil at home, the coming weeks could bring something even more extraordinary.