Afghan fans celebrate their team's victory after watching it on a big screen in Kabul. Source: AFP
WAR-TORN Afghanistan erupted in wild celebrations as its cricket team beat Kenya to qualify for the 2015 World Cup, just 12 years after the game took hold in the wake of the Taliban's fall.
About 3,000 fans packed onto the field at Kabul's only cricket stadium to watch the match on a big screen, with noisy chants and dancing marking each boundary as Afghan batsmen carried the side to an easy victory in Sharjah.
Celebratory gunfire tore through the air in the eastern city of Jalalabad as the realisation dawned that their country will be heading to the tournament, to be hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
"Tears come out of my eyes because of my happiness,'' Zakir Mohammadi, 23, told AFP, the national flag draped across his shoulders.
"I am speechless and can't express myself. This is a great feat for our cricket team and for all Afghans."
After dismissing Kenya for just 93 in the 44th over at the Sharjah Cricket Ground, Afghanistan reached their target in the 21st over when captain Mohammad Nabi hit a boundary through midwicket.
Nabi, who finished on 46 not out, and Hashmatullah Shaidi put on 62 for the fourth wicket to bring their side home with 175 balls to spare.
Nabi smashed two huge sixes and three fours to assure his team of second place in the World Cricket League behind runaway winners Ireland, who have also qualified for the World Cup.
Afghanistan will play in Pool A at the World Cup in 2015 along with Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and another qualifier.
Afghanistan's cricket side has progressed rapidly since the country emerged from the rule of the Taliban in 2001, when they also became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council and an associate member earlier this year.
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