KABUL: Taliban officials went down to social media on Monday to congratulate the Afghan National Cricket team to win the match at the World Cup Twenty20, but there was a response muted in Kabul streets where such a victory was celebrated enthusiastically in the past.
Afghanistan defeated Scotland in the match played in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates – First big victory for the team since the Taliban State Takeover.
While the Taliban furrowed many forms of public entertainment, Cricket has always been an exception, a game fighters followed E01d carefully even during the war every time the national team played.
“Congratulations to the team and hope they are more successful in the future,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter.
A spokesman for the Qatar Taliban office also joined in praise, added: “We hope that the same achievements and even higher in other fields, especially in the fields of politics, economics and science.” The highest profile message came from Anas Haqqani, the younger brother of the Affairs Minister of Afghanistan currently Sirajuddin Haqqani – Head of the Haqqani network.
“Afghanistan wins,” said the younger Haqqani.
Taliban representatives – appointed to the UN Suhail Shaheen tweeted: “Boys are well done!” However, there was a relative silence throughout Kabul, where such a victory had previously met with excitement on the streets, fireworks and celebration shots.
There are only a few, small fireworks seen in the sky kabul.
The streets are mostly empty or quiet.
The Taliban enemy also saw a significant victory for the country.
Amrullah Saleh, a former vice president who was one of the leaders of the anti-Taliban forces after the fall of Kabul, showed Twitter that the cricket team sang a national anthem and lifted the flag that was not worried by the Taliban.
President of Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country in August, said the victory had “put up new hopes in the hearts of all these nations alive and no one could hold hostage!” Despite years of violence and upheaval, Afghanistan has followers of cricket and residents of Kabul who are enthusiastic and widespread with enthusiasm anticipating Cricket World Cup matches.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) government will meet next month to determine the future of the game in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.