Afghanistan's Champions Trophy Debut in Pakistan Marred by Deportation Fears

Image credits: AFP/Reuters/White Star/Tahir Jamal

Afghan refugees seeking resettlement in Pakistan gathered at a cafe in Islamabad to watch their national cricket team play in the elite Champions Trophy for the first time, but the discussion soon turned to their fears of deportation. Pakistan, hosts of the Champions Trophy featuring cricket's top eight one-day sides including Afghanistan, is in the middle of a huge drive to repatriate the roughly 4 million Afghans who have crossed the border during 40 years of armed conflict at home, including since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

While Afghan fans outside the ground in Karachi were in a festive mood ahead of their side's opener against South Africa, those in Islamabad spoke of their fear after Pakistan began deporting Afghans from the capital and its twin garrison city of Rawalpindi in January. The Afghan team's debut in the Champions Trophy was a significant milestone, with many players having played in Karachi before, including veteran cricketer Mohammad Nabi, who has played domestic cricket in the city for Pakistan Customs. Nabi brought his experience to the mix, taking a wicket off the very first ball of his spell, sending the Afghan fans in the stands into a frenzy. The team's performance was also boosted by the presence of local Karachi legend Younis Khan, who was part of the Afghan dressing room as a mentor.

The match between Afghanistan and South Africa was a one-sided affair, with South Africa winning by 107 runs, but the Afghan fans stuck around to catch a glimpse of their favourite players in person. The spectators were rewarded with a few fireworks from Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, who treated them to a quick-fire 18 of 13, including three boundaries and a six. The team's wicket-keeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, thanked the supporters after the match and said that playing in Karachi felt like playing at home, with the ground almost full and the team receiving a lot of support from the crowd. However, the match was also interrupted by an unexpected guest, a black cat that stopped play during the 31st over of the Afghanistan batting innings, causing a temporary halt before the cat was rescued and play resumed.

The Afghan team's next match is against England on Wednesday, and they will be looking to bounce back from their loss against South Africa. The team's performance in the Champions Trophy will be closely watched by fans and critics alike, and they will be hoping to make a strong impression in their debut tournament. The cricket world will be watching with interest as Afghanistan takes on the top teams in the world, and the team will be looking to prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The Champions Trophy is a prestigious tournament, and Afghanistan's participation is a significant milestone for the country's cricket team.

Here are the match scores:

• Afghanistan vs South Africa: South Africa won by 107 runs
• Upcoming matches:
  1. Afghanistan vs England on Wednesday
  2. South Africa vs Australia on Tuesday
  3. South Africa vs England on Saturday

The tournament schedule is as follows:

1. February 21: Afghanistan vs South Africa
2. February 25: South Africa vs Australia
3. February 26: Afghanistan vs England
4. March 1: South Africa vs England

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