The Afghan National Cricket Team returned to Kabul from the Asian Cricket Council's Emerging Teams Cup (ACCETC) early Tuesday after defeating India and Nepal, but having championship hopes dashed by a loss to Pakistan.
Flying in from Singapore, the host of ACCETC this hear, the team's mixed success garnered them enough approval from supporters to be welcomed by a crowd of dozens of cheering fans at the international airport in Kabul.
The afghan team began the tournament strong with a narrow 3-run win over Nepal and a landslide 28-run victory over India. However, they were unable to edge out the squad from who defeated them by two wickets.
The win against India marked the Afghan's side's first win against a Test-playing nation.
The ACCETC is hosted teams from Singapore, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan is on the verge of qualifying for the 50-over World Cup, and has already played the World T20 Cup twice, in 2010 and 2012. At the moment, Afghanistan is in third place on the World Cricket League Championship points table, with the Netherlands just above them.
The Afghan squad includes: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Hamza Hotak,Hashmatullah Shaidi, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Shahzad,Mohibullah Oryakhel, Nawroz Mangal, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari.