Asghar Afghan earned the right to choose his moment

NICK FRIEND: There have been better cricketers than Asghar Afghan, but not many so significant. He departs to widespread respect, as a national hero

Until 2018, Asghar Afghan was Asghar Stanikzai, at which point he changed his surname “in honour of protecting the national identity of Afghan citizens”.

For 14 years beforehand and for three more thereafter, he used cricket for that same purpose. In many ways, Afghanistan’s story is Asghar Afghan’s story: yes, there is an emerging stable of new superstars, whose impact on the wider game – through franchise tournaments and commercial exposure – will almost certainly usurp Afghan’s. But few in the still-short history of cricket in his country have played a more significant role in reaching this point, where he retires after a World Cup match in which Afghanistan – yes, Afghanistan – were clear pre-match favourites to win.

Four years before Afghan made his senior international debut in 2004, cricket remained prohibited by the Taliban. Mohammad Nabi was a teammate, Karim Sadiq another. Others – Hamid Hassan and Noor Ali Zadran – arrived on the scene not long afterwards, but not many have done the full works through the World Cricket Leagues and beyond.

By the time he faced India in 2010 – the first time he had come up against a full-member nation – he had already played international cricket against Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Bahamas, Botswana, Singapore, Jersey, Hong Kong, Fiji, Tanzania, Italy, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Cayman Islands, Canada, Bhutan, Scotland, the Netherlands and Ireland. Namibia are the 40th country against whom he has played for Afghanistan. That may well be a record in itself.

For that reason, then, ending it right here feels quite poignant – against opposition who themselves have a tremendous tale to tell of underdogs defying logic to reach this promised land. It doesn’t exist quite on the same plain as Afghanistan’s remarkable rise, but Gerhard Erasmus’ side began their qualifying journey for this tournament with a win over Eswatini in Botswana. And while his side have long-since graduated from the unaccommodating ruthlessness of that process, Afghan will have recognised plenty of his own past in Namibia’s ascent. By the same token, Erasmus’ men no doubt will have looked on in awe at a man so central to one of sport’s most extraordinary fairytales.

Afghanistan take on India next, followed by New Zealand. He could easily have waited until then and seen out this World Cup campaign, but – on an emotional level – calling time on his international career fits at this juncture.

^{Asghar Afghan was given a guard of honour by Namibia when he came onto the field}

“Most people are asking me why I am retiring now but it is something I can’t explain,” he said when the question was put to him at the innings break. “In the last match we were hurt very badly, and that is why I decided to retire.”

Afghanistan have rarely entered a game in a global tournament as the established team and likelier winners; certainly, they have never felt more complete or competitive on this stage, with a semi-final berth a genuine, plausible target. That the defeat to Pakistan – the product of a late assault from Asif Ali – caused such pain should, with time, allow Afghan to realise how far he and his team have ventured.

His first international appearance at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium came in 2012 during a victory over Malaysia, a year before Afghanistan held even associate membership but two after their World T20 debut in the Caribbean. Back then, this moment – returning to the same ground as a full member and a team to be feared – would hardly have been worth putting much time to even as a distant pipedream.

Put simply, then, this feels like the completion of a full circle. “I want to give a chance to our youngsters,” he added. “This is a good opportunity for them to come forward. There are plenty of memories.”

He broke down in tears when asked if he had a message for his family, one of whom – Karim Janat, his sibling – is part of this team. You sense, though, that this side is a band of brothers: Afghan was greeted on the boundary’s edge after his dismissal by Gulbadin Naib, who stood with his arms outstretched for a bearhug before replacing him in the middle. When the game ended, Gulbadin carried him from the field on his shoulders.

It can’t be easy carrying the responsibility of playing cricket for any country, let alone one where the sport represents as much as in Afghanistan. It hasn’t been without challenges for Afghan, who was treated poorly on occasion and lost the captaincy unceremoniously ahead of the 2019 World Cup after four years at the helm – the reason given was a nonsense. He was promptly left out of the side when it got underway, only to work himself back into contention once the value of his middle-order experience became clear. By the end of that year, he was back in charge across all formats – a stint that lasted 15 months.

In amongst that upheaval, he became Afghanistan’s first Test captain – a label that will forever be his – and Afghanistan won 42 T20Is under his leadership. No one has won more: not Eoin Morgan, not MS Dhoni. His doughty style with the bat often felt symbolic of his country: a permanent sense of defiance cocktailed with an unashamed fearlessness. That was never better displayed than in Afghanistan’s first ODI against a full-member nation, when he made 66 against an Australian bowling attack featuring Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc. It was a brave, enterprising, half century built on a pride in his country that has never once wilted.

^{The Afghanistan squad lined up to laud Asghar Afghan as his final international innings came to an end}

“It is like life,” Raees Ahmadzai told The Cricketer two years ago. “One day, you will be gone. For sportspeople, the best time to go is once you realise that it is the best time. When I took my retirement, I felt so proud of myself – given where we had started and where I was finishing.”

Ahmadzai was the first man from his nation to retire from international cricket; he is only three years older than Afghan, and the pair played together for the six years up until Ahmadzai called it quits after the 2010 World T20, a competition he saw as his Everest. Once he had climbed it, that was his cue.

“Sometimes, when those of us who have known each other for almost 25 years talk, we think it is like a movie for us,” he reflected. “Nobody was thinking that the time would come when we’d be travelling all over the world, playing at a high level, playing at international grounds.

“Honestly, we were not expecting that we’d have an opportunity to represent the country at a national level. I remember going one time with 35 Pakistani rupees in 1996 to watch the Holland and England World Cup match in Peshawar. I realised then that I wanted to play like that, that I wanted to wear a jersey like that.”

It was his life’s work, just as this has been Afghan’s life’s work. He retires as a 33-year-old still – on the evidence of 31 off 23 balls against Namibia, 17 years after being bowled for nought on debut against Oman – with miles left in the tank. But he has accomplished what he set out to achieve; there is no requirement to be a spent force when coming to a decision of this finality, no shame in knowing your time.

Twin guards of honour said it all: one from the Namibian side as he strode once more to the crease; another from his teammates as he made the lonely walk back for one final time. His country’s supporters stood and offered their own collective salute.

There have been better cricketers than Asghar Afghan, but not many so significant. He has earned this right to choose his moment. He departs to widespread respect, as a national hero.

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