About
The Afghanistan Cricket Federation was established in 1995 and granted affiliate membership by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2001. This marked the beginning of an incredible journey in the history of sports for Afghanistan, followed by achieving associate membership in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2003. Cricket was not very popular in Afghanistan during the early to mid-2000s. However, a significant loss to Hong Kong in the semi-final of the 2006 ACC Trophy proved to be beneficial for the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, as it ignited a passion and determination for victory among the players. This, in turn, helped grow the sport's fan base across the country and within the Afghan diaspora abroad, particularly among the youth. Afghan cricket began to attract media attention, which further increased coverage of the national team’s progress. In 2007, after becoming joint champions of the ACC T20 Trophy in Kuwait, the national team returned home to a hero's welcome. They were celebrated by members of society, including government officials, and their victory was acknowledged nationwide. Team members were invited to celebratory events across various provinces, as cricket began to symbolize hope for unity and prosperity in a nation that had experienced over three decades of war. This shift raised public expectations for the national team to perform as a cohesive unit with heightened spirit, thereby capturing the interest of the Afghan government in cricket and the team's achievements.