*Afghan Cricket Team Near To Qualify For the World Cup 2011
*Afghans cheered and danced at Kabul airport Tuesday as they welcomed back the national cricket team after a victory which left their side one step away from the 2011 World Cup and provided a rare moment to celebrate in a country crippled by war.
Afghanistan won the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday, earning the team a spot in the final qualifying tournament in South Africa in April.
“This kind of joy only comes once in a while. And it is a joy for all of Afghanistan's people. And so I congratulate everyone," said player Asti Gul Abed.
Cricket is still not a common sport in Afghanistan and most of the team's members learned the game abroad, many in neighboring Pakistan. There is one national cricket academy in the capital, but the Afghan players have done much of their recent training in Pakistan.
the crowd reveled in the trophy held high by the players. Turbaned men played traditional drums and flutes, and some exultant fans opened up their winter coats to dance.
Players have described the victory as their chance to give some much-needed joy to the people of Afghanistan.
“We want to get through to the second stage of the competition and try and get in the top four, as that would be a real gift for the Afghan people," wicketkeeper Karim Khan said in a statement released by the International Cricket Council.
“It would be amazing to come from the refugee camps and play cricket with the big nations and try and beat a test-playing country. That would be the greatest achievement of our lives."
For the final qualifiers in South Africa, which run from April 1-19, Afghanistan will be in Group B along with Kenya, Netherlands, Bermuda, UAE and Denmark. Uganda, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Oman and Namibia are in Group A.
The top four teams from the competition advance to the World Cup.
