Taliban Leaders Celebrate Afghan Cricket Team Victory On Social Media, But Kabul Streets Remain Quiet

Tim kriket Afghanistan (Twitter @ACBofficials)

JAKARTA - Taliban officials are using social media to congratulate Afghanistan's national cricket team for winning the Twenty20 World Cup match, but the streets of Kabul remain deserted even before the Taliban came to power victories like this were always celebrated on the streets.

As reported by Antara, Afghanistan beat Scotland in a match played in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and this was Afghanistan's first major victory since being taken over by the Taliban.

While the Taliban dislike many forms of public entertainment, cricket has always been an exception. This sport is often closely followed by Taliban fighters, even during the war whenever the Afghan national team plays.

"Congratulations to the team and wish them more success in the future," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter.

Congratulation to all Afghan cricket team and the entire Afghan nation for the historical win against Scotland. Well done boys! May Allah favour you with future victories.

Keep it up!

T20-world cup-2021.

— Zabihullah Mujahid (@Zabihullah_M3) October 25, 2021

A spokesman for the Taliban in Qatar also moderated by praising that "We hope there will be similar and even higher achievements in other fields, especially in the political, economic and scientific fields."

The highest congratulatory official was Anas Haqqani, the younger brother of the current Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani who is the head of the Haqqani Network.

"Afghanistan wins," said Haqqani jumior.

The Taliban representative at the UN Suhail Shaheen also tweeted "Wonderful kids!"

But all of Kabul remained deserted, whereas before that victory had always been met with excitement in the streets, fireworks and celebratory gunfire.

But this time there were few fireworks visible in the Kabul sky, while the streets were generally empty or quiet.

The Taliban's enemies also considered the victory very meaningful for the country.

Amrullah Saleh, a former vice president who became one of the leaders of anti-Taliban forces after the fall of Kabul, said on Twitter that the cricket team had sung the national anthem and raised a flag not recognized by the Taliban.

A roaring start for AfghanAtalan in their #T20WorldCup 2021 campaign 🔥

Afghanistan went past Scotland by 130 runs. #Congratulations to the whole nation and all the fans 💪

Well played @CricketScotland, better luck next time. 👍🤝#AFGvSCO #T20WC2021 pic.twitter.com/sXH5QPmHg7

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 25, 2021

President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country last August, said the victory "has put new hope in everyone's heart that this nation is alive and no one should be holding it hostage!"

Despite years of violence and upheaval, Afghanistan has a rabid and widespread cricket fanatic, and Kabul city dwellers are looking forward to a cricket world cup match.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet next month to determine the future of cricket in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.