Afghanistan: Cricket in a war-torn country

In 2001 two things happened in Afghanistan. The country ravaged since the cold war days was put under the gun once again. 'Operation Enduring Freedom', a response to the 2001 September 11 terror attacks, saw the nation being bombarded by US and the allied forces. Even as blood was spilt, homes were devastated, and death and misery was all pervading, a moment of minute respite was found. The year saw the birth of Afghanistan's national cricket team.

2010 was a landmark year in Afghanistan's cricketing history. The national side qualified for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies. That they lost all their matches is insignificant. That they even made it to a global cricket tournament is something to marvel at.

We take a look at some heart-warming cricket pictures from Afghanistan.