221: Afghanistan plays on the world stage

I found this uplifting article in the Times of India today, about Afghanistan's emerging cricket team. The team has set its sights on the 2011 World Cup and is in confident mood as it enters the first round of qualifying games - the ICC World Cricket League division five competition hosted by Jersey. Afghanistan only joined the ICC league as an affiliate member in 2001, but has made strong progress - including beating a Marylebone Cricket Club team led by Mike Gatting, the former England captain. I can't beat the words of the Afghan cricket captain, Norooz Khan Mangal, who said: "The qualifying event will mark the dawn of a new era for Afghan sport and it can show the war-torn country in a fresh light... Like any other team, we are travelling to Jersey with the objective to win the tournament and take the first step in the right direction. But at the same time, we would like to make more friends and try to learn good cricket."