Afghanistan cricket dream still alive

Afghanistan's dream of reaching the Cricket World Cup is still alive.

By winning the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament on Saturday, Afghanistan advanced to the final qualifying tournament in South Africa in April for the 2011 World Cup.

"To play in the World Cup for the first time is a dream for us," Afghanistan captain Nowroz Mangal said.

And after winning Division 5 in Jersey island last May, and winning Division 4 in Tanzania last October - losing only once in the three tournaments - Mangal was confident of making it to cricket's showcase event.

"This team always shows plenty of fight when in a difficult position," coach Kabir Khan said.

Despite a homeland wracked by war and occupied by foreign forces, and few cricket clubs and fields, Afghanistan came to Buenos Aires with high hopes. After 40 days in Saudi Arabia to perform the Muslim Hajj, the team assembled late last month in Pakistan, where it trained at the state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy and received coaching from former Pakistan stars.

The tips came in handy for the team which joined the ICC only in 2001.

After losing the Division 3 opener to Uganda by 14 runs, Afghanistan beat Hong Kong (by 13) and Argentina (by 19) without suspended captain Mangal, then routed Papua New Guinea by 8 wickets, and received some luck in the must-win finale against the Cayman Islands.

On Friday, Afghanistan's dream run looked set to end when bad weather left the Caymans with an easy victory target of 63 from 20 overs. But with the Caymans at 35-2, rain returned and forced the match to be abandoned.

In the rematch on Saturday, Afghanistan scored 230-8 - Mangal hit 70 in 89 balls and Asghar Stanikzai a 62-ball 66 - and dismissed the Caymans for 148. Mohammad Nabi took 4-23.

Afghanistan, Uganda and PNG finished the tournament with eight points each, and PNG missed out on net run rate from traveling to South Africa for the last qualifying event.