The Afghan team at the nets in Greater Noida. (Source: Tashi Tobgyal) The Afghan team at the nets in Greater Noida. (Source: Tashi Tobgyal)

Afghanistan under-19 captain Ihsan Ullah Janaat says he and his teammates are living a dream. Standing on the smooth-as-a-billiards table, lush-green turf that is flanked by a high-tech gymnasium and indoor nets, Janaat’s dropped jaw exaggerated the smile on his face.

After a long net session on the eve of his team’s historic first ‘home-away-from-home’ game at Greater Noida’s Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex against Zimbabwe Colts, Janaat is in a rush. He and his team-mates have plans to grab a bite at the food court of a nearby mall that can be reached after a short drive on a wide road that has modern integrated townships, luxury villas and swanky flats with terrace gardens.

The Afghan boys are used to breath-taking natural surroundings that they were born in but Greater Noida’s modern urban landscape, plus the world class cricket facilities, have left them overawed. There is chatter among the boys about the possibility of catching a peek of the movie posters at the multiplex at the mall.

“India is a land of Bollywood, and I am a complete sucker for hardcore Hindi films,” Janaat, a self-confessed Shah Rukh Khan fan, adds. Since the time the Afghanistan Cricket Board started talking to the BCCI about the possibility of setting up a base close to New Delhi, young cricketers in Kabul have been excited about going to the land of Sachin and Shah Rukh. “We don’t feel alien here, we have learnt Hindi watching movies and took cricketing tips watching players from here. Now, we have made this our home, it’s too good to be true,” says the captain.

Apart from Shah Rukh, it’s India Test captain Virat Kohli who seems to have caught the attention of Janaat. “He is my favourite batsman,” he gushes. It’s Kohli’s dazzling strokeplay which sets him apart, he says. Janaat is the younger brother of the Afghanistan senior team’s middle-order batting mainstay Nawroz Mangal. He concedes that he developed a love for the game watching his elder brother bat.

“The kind of reception and affection that we have got in this country is just amazing… at no point were we under any sort of stress,” says Rashid Arman, a senior player. The games in Greater Noida, according to Janaat, will give his team the perfect platform to assess their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the U-19 World Cup, which begins in Dhaka next month.

While the youngsters would have their own reasons to like India, for the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s (ACB) CEO Shafiq Stanikzai, moving out of Kabul was a pragmatic call.

“With the temperatures in Kabul currently touching

freezing point, the conditions there are not conducive to organise matches. That apart, citing security concerns, most teams would hesitate to travel to Kabul. Hence, ahead of the U-19 World Cup, we needed some practice… this was when we approached the BCCI, and they immediately agreed to our request,” Stanikzai adds.

Afghanistan coach Dawlat Ah Madzai is keen that the boys don’t get distracted by the change of surroundings. He says the mood in the camp is upbeat, and feels his side will definitely give the Zimbabweans a fight. “We have a side which has a number of all-rounders and fast bowlers, and the conditions here will suit us more.”

For these colts, their India sojourn did not begin in Greater Noida. They were in Kolkata last month, to participate in a tri-series featuring India and Bangladesh. After the tri-series, they flew to Kabul, only to return to this venue earlier this month.

Arman says the side has managed to acclimatise to the conditions after having spent close to a week here. “The fact that we were in Kolkata last month to play the tri-series will definitely work in our favour,” he adds.

Apart from the home conditions, what has bolstered this side is the presence of former India medium pacer Manoj Prabhakar. The 52-year-old monitored the practice session on Saturday morning and even spoke to some of the fast bowlers at the nets session. Though it was not official, Prabhakar is likely to be offered the role of bowling coach.

Quizzed on his new role, he said:

“I have not signed the contract with the ACB as yet. I hope to sign the dotted line in a couple of days. It is an exciting challenge, one which I am looking forward to.”

For this young and talented Afghan side however, this is as good as it gets. World class facilities, best coaches and a chance to watch a Shah Rukh Khan movie first day, first show next Friday.

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