Kabul (Kubha News)- The Afghanistan national cricket team is facing significant backlash from its supporters following consecutive losses to Sri Lanka. In their latest match, Afghanistan fell short by just four runs, with Captain Ibrahim Zadran being the sole player to score more than fifty runs.
Criticism has intensified, particularly on social media platforms, after the team’s back-to-back defeats against Sri Lanka in both Test matches and the one-day series.
Journalist and cricket expert Jafar Haand analyzed the team’s shortcomings in a Facebook post titled ‘Afghanistan lost again.’ He says, “We lost the game in Bitang. All players have some responsibility, but the majority should be attributed to Gurbaz, Gulbadin, and Najib. They should have stayed on the wicket and extended the game, but none of them took the responsibility like Ibrahim Zadran. However, he also failed to score 11 runs in the last over.”
Fans like Akmal Zahir Tarakai have directed their ire towards the Cricket Board’s leadership, questioning their competence in managing the team. Turki’s sarcastic comment, “Cricket management and players won’t leave unless people say something unpleasant to them… What are they trying to prove?” reflects the growing dissatisfaction among supporters.
Saeed Shinwari, an exiled Afghan journalist, criticizes the underutilization of Momand’s potential, a player on the national cricket team, stating, “This time, when you come back, stay at home.”
Mirvis Amarkhel, a civil activist, expressed his disappointment on Facebook and said, referring to Valentine’s Day, ‘Happy Inheritors Day,’ which implies accusations of hereditary nepotism in team selection.
Despite Ibrahim Zadran’s noteworthy performance, scoring more than fifty runs in the last match, journalist Ikramullah Ikram expressed disappointment in the captain’s inability to secure victory. Ikram remarked, “What did our captain want? Just to remain not out? This game could not be lost.”
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has yet to respond to the mounting criticisms.