It is not often that a sporting event between two countries is deemed significant enough to warrant statements by their respective heads of government. Yet at a stadium in Bengaluru last week, prior to the commence of a cricket Test Match between India and Afghanistan, statements from both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were read out to the crowd and the live television audience. The game, known as the Indo-Afghanistan Friendship Series, was significant not just for its indication of Afghanistan's rapid ascension towards playing their first game in premier format of sport, but for the wider relationship between the two countries as well.
In his statement Modi made note of the Afghan cricket team's potential as a nation-building institution, and India's support for this, stating, “Today cricket is unifying force for the people of Afghanistan. India takes pride in being shoulder-to-shoulder with Afghanistan in this journey.” Making note of Afghanistan cricket's trajectory in the midst of the country's troubles, Modi added, “These achievements have come about in challenging and difficult circumstances. This demonstrates the indomitable Afghan spirit to overcome all challenges and realize aspirations for a purposeful, stable, united and peaceful nation.”
Ghani's statement focused on the circumstance that lead to Afghanistan becoming a competitive force in world cricket, declaring, “As President of Afghanistan, I welcome their maiden Test match against India. I am proud of the men who championed cricket in Afghanistan in the dawn of the century and believed in themselves that one day Afghanistan will play against the best in the world.”
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