Why Afghanistan vs Pakistan is the new cricketing rivalry

When Afghanistan defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in their ICC World Cup match on October 23, the entire team celebrated it like a festival. Rashid Khan danced with India's former cricketer, Irfan Pathan, and the entire team rushed to the ground for celebrations. Moreover, the entire Indian crowd rallied behind Afghanistan as the match was against Pakistan, India's arch-rivals.

For Afghanistan, handing over a humiliating defeat to their new rival Pakistan was no less than winning a World Cup.

But how did Afghanistan and Pakistan become such bitter enemies in cricket? The answer lies in the politics of the two countries as well as the on-field rivalries between the two teams.

The politics that fuels the rivalry

• A significant reason why cricketers of both teams are at crossroads is due to politics.
• Afghanistan's opening batter, Ibrahim Zadran, dedicated his Man of the Match award to all the Afghan refugees who had been turned back by Pakistan.
• Zadran's statement hinted at Pakistan's callousness in accepting Afghan refugees who have attempted to flee the war-torn country in the last two decades.
• Under President General Pervez Musharraf in 2007, Pakistan turned a blind eye to Afghanistan refugees when the US attacks took place.
• Despite potential differing civilian stances, the Pakistani government has officially never lent its support to Afghanistan over the years, possibly contributing to the growing animosity between the two nations.
• Conversely, a faction of Pakistanis has labeled Afghanistan as treacherous, claiming that Pakistan has provided them with cricket facilities without any reciprocation.
• The on-field rivalry witnessed in recent matches has further escalated the hostility between the two teams.

Asif Ali-Fahad Ahmed Sharjah Fight

• Tensions intensified between the two teams after the Asia Cup incident in September 2022, when Pakistan's Asif Ali and Afghanistan's Fahad Ahmed engaged in an ugly fight in Sharjah.
• Asif, having hit a six off Fahad, was dismissed on the next ball. In an aggressive move, Fahad confronted Asif, who retaliated by pushing him and brandishing his bat, almost striking him.

• Naseem Shah entered the pitch with nine wickets down and 11 needed off the final over. Pakistan's victory in the match intensified celebrations in their dressing room, leading to teasing of the Afghanistan team.

• Post-match, Afghanistan's fans destroyed chairs and engaged in physical altercations with Pakistani fans, cementing the seeds of a long-standing Pakistan-Afghanistan rivalry in cricket.

• Pakistan's devastating defeat against Afghanistan in the World Cup match in India became a point of massive embarrassment, further stoking the flames of rivalry between the two teams.

Pakistan's World Cup hopes are nearly dashed, having lost three back-to-back matches. Their next encounter will be against South Africa in the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Afghanistan will face Sri Lanka in Pune on October 30, 2023.