And some excerpts we must read:
...Afghanistan cricket coach, Lalchand Rajput made scathing attacks on Zimbabwe Cricket’s lack of organisation and provision of basic equipment to deal with incessant rains during the just ended series which his team won 3-2.
...Rain was predicted in the afternoon and it duly came at the lunch interval disrupting Zimbabwe’s run chase as 28 overs were lost.
But what caught the eyes of the near capacity crowd was seeing the Afghanistan players and some of their background staff helping the Harare Sports Club grounds men in making sure that the rain will not spill onto the wicket square which led to the abandonment of the first ODI which Afghanistan won.
It’s probably the first time in international cricket that a visiting team has helped the local grounds staff because they desperately wanted to win the series and make a statement to the International Cricket Council.
...Afghanistan were not leaving things to chance as the first game of the series they won under D/L had taught them that any mistake with having water in the 30 yard circle will lead to the game being abandoned and the series would have been shared at 2 all.
This was a team who came to Harare with a mission. It wasn’t just another series but one of the most important since they applied for test status. A statement had to be made and a big one for that matter.
Afghanistan looked and played like Zimbabwe in the late 80’s and early 90’s on their road to test status.
All the hard work that has been put by the Afghanistan Cricket Board was on display throughout the series. You could see a team that was playing like the future of their cricket depended on this series.
Nothing was going to stand in their way in winning the series, not rain, not Zimbabwe’s inept administration. They decided to take matters into their own hands, giving the grounds men an extra hand to make sure that at least 20 overs of Zimbabwe’s run chase would be possible.
From the press box you could see Afghanistan team manager, Shirhamkar summoning all his players who were not in the playing eleven, backroom staff and some who had batted earlier in the day to try and help with ground preparation.
Asked why his players helped Harare Sports Club ground staff, Rajput who is from India spoke about the goals they had set before the tour and was surprised that a test nation like Zimbabwe didn’t have ground equipment like the Supper Sopper.
“Since it was the deciding the game we really wanted to play and make sure that we play at least a 20 overs game that’s the reason i said to the boys try and help (the ground staff)
“I am really surprised that Zimbabwe as a test playing country doesn’t have the Super Sopper because for any test playing country this is a must. Even the man power should have been increased because they knew that the series was on and the rains were also coming on and off. They should have been well prepared for that.”said Rajput the Afghanistan coach
We must be ashamed to bits. Look how the Afghans ensured they get what they wanted from this. And how. We could not scratch around for 2 additional minutes in the first match to get the DL go our way. But look at the extent to which these guys have gone.It such comments by the Indian native that highlights things that many involved in the local game have been saying about non-cricket people having taken over the running of cricket just to line up their pockets and milk the cow dry.
And Lalchand Rajput also fires a parting shot at ZC for good measure. Their desperation for win can win hearts too. We have forgotten what even competing means.