From playing in refugee camps to facing Johnson at WACA: Gutsy Shenwari is all that's inspiring about Afghan cricket

After being dismissed attempting another six to fall agonisingly short of a memorable century, Samiullah Shenwari forlornly sank to his knees in despair. Chasing 211 against Scotland in Dunedin, Afghanistan were nine wickets down needing 19 runs off as many balls for their maiden World Cup victory. I’ve blown our chances of victory, a crestfallen Shenwari thought as he trudged off University Oval’s innards having compiled a brilliant 96. Afghanistan had suffered a catastrophic middle-order collapse to be hopelessly situated at 7-97 after 24 overs. Their prospects looked doomed but Shenwari, a hard-hitting batsman and talented leg-break bowler, failed to be perturbed. Evoking MS Dhoni, Shenwari’s composure settled the team’s nerves as he expertly revived Afghanistan’s chase. His ability to change gears and dictate the bowling, highlighted by clearing the boundary five times, under enormous pressure was bold and breathtaking. Eventually, the last wicket pair of Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran hauled Afghanistan to a famous win that will be forever etched in cricket annals and is set to be one of the enduring images from this World Cup. [caption id=“attachment_2133957” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  When Shenwari was a child, Pakistan was a powerhouse of international cricket with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq all dominant players in their own eclectic styles. AFP[/caption] After basking in the initial euphoria of victory on cricket’s grandest stage, Shenwari grasped the gravity of the achievement and knew it was being fervently savoured back home. “It was amazing to win because we knew how important victory was for our country,” Shenwari tells Firstpost. “We knew the whole country would be so happy that we won and we even received congratulations from the president. It is important we do well because cricket is now the most popular sport in the country… it has overtaken football… and we want to be a positive influence for our people.” Hailing from a turbulent country suffering so much heartbreak, each player has a profound backstory that makes it hard not to marvel at their dedication pursuing cricket dreams. For Shenwari, he was too young to remember his family’s determined effort fleeing their war torn country to seek safety in neighbouring Pakistan. But the heartfelt journey was reinforced to him throughout his childhood. “We were from Jalalabad but we had to move to Peshawar for safety because of the war,” Shenwari says. “My mum always reminds me of the obstacles we faced. She told me we had to walk to cross the border because there was no car or any other access. We had to cross the mountains to the Pakistani side. It took weeks. The dedication from my family is something that will always be part of me.” Like some of his current teammates, Shenwari’s passion for cricket emanated from a refugee camp in Peshawar. He played cricket with a taped tennis ball and did not use a hard ball until aged 15. Shenwari schooled in Pakistan and enjoyed living in his adopted country. But deep down, he was innately Afghan and longed to return to his country of origin that he had no memory of. “I missed my country but it was dangerous to return to Afghanistan,” Shenwari recollects. “My parents were keeping us safe in Pakistan.” When Shenwari was a child, Pakistan was a powerhouse of international cricket with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq all dominant players in their own eclectic styles. Amid a fanatical cricket populace, Shenwari closely followed Pakistan’s progress but never developed an affinity for them. “I used to watch Pakistan play other countries but I supported England,” he says. “I especially have enjoyed them in the last decade because they have my favourite player Kevin Pietersen, who I love watch batting.” Shenwari’s dreams of experiencing his homeland were realised in 2005 when his family returned to Afghanistan. “It was incredible to finally be back home,” Shenwari says. “Afghanistan is a country that is continually changing and people have moved back. Afghanistan is starting to boom again.” Due to pioneers like Shenwari, cricket is starting to boom in Afghanistan too with the bat and ball sport increasing in popularity over the past decade and the fruits of success have manifested in this World Cup. Afghanistan and the other Associate teams have energised an otherwise turgid start to the World Cup, with the majority of the matches between the full members being excruciatingly lopsided thus far. Playing with attacking fervor and boasting a memorably high-octane bowling arsenal, Afghanistan has ascended into cult favourites amongst many cricket supporters. The success of the Associates has made a mockery of the ICC’s desire to reduce the number of participants at the 2019 World Cup to a 10-team event. Shenwari believes Afghanistan is an emerging force that can ascend quickly if properly supported. “There are lots of talented teenagers in Afghanistan, especially fast bowlers and we have some under 16s who can already bowl 135km/h,” he says. “The next generation is awesome but we need to be given a chance to play against the best. We hope to play Test cricket, maybe in five years. I think we are ready because we have very good natural talent and we just have to keep playing against the elite to keep improving our technique.” Playing against four-time World Cup champions Australia at the famed WACA ground will be another opportunity for Afghanistan to pit their emerging skills against the best. The WACA’s pitch is expected to brim with fury through the sharp bounce and rapid pace extracted from its hard surface. Australia’s gunslingers Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, fresh from impersonating Wasim Akram’s finest during his virtuoso performance against New Zealand, are bound to be intimidating on the hallowed pitch. Afghanistan lost their only ODI against Australia in mid-2012 by 66 runs in a competitive match on the low and slow wicket in Sharjah. In that match, Shenwari was fooled by a Starc slower delivery and dismissed for 14. Shenwari is bracing for a bout of bumpers from Australia’s pacemen at the WACA. Having overcome so much adversity during their entire lives, facing fast bumpers is not so daunting for them, according to Shenwari. “I am looking forward to the battle and am expecting short balls but we can handle it,” Shenwari says. “Australia has great bowlers but the key is to punish the bad balls and have a plan. It is important to be aggressive. It will be exciting and I think we can perform well.” Playing at the WACA against the vaunted Australia is another important step in Afghanistan’s progression. But Shenwari is adamant loftier goals await his compatriots. “I truly believe Afghanistan can win the World Cup one day,” he says. “This is our hope and it can happen. We truly believe our destiny is to become a great cricket nation.”