'Indian People Give...': Afghanistan Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi

image-lonszsndAfghanistan's journey in World Cup 2023 has been truly inspirational

Afghanistan captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, recently highlighted the significant role of Indian fans in boosting his team's morale during the ongoing World Cup 2023.


AUS vs AFG: Hashmatullah Shahidi expresses gratitude towards Indian fans

Shahidi expressed gratitude for the constant support from Indian spectators, who have been consistently present in the stadiums, cheering for the Afghanistan team. This support, according to Shahidi, has been a key motivator for the team's improved performance, contributing to their string of victories in the tournament.

"The Indian people (have) given us a lot of support throughout the tournament. They are coming to every game, into the stadiums, and they are supporting us. That also motivates us," said Shahidi.

Shahidi also shared personal experiences of warmth and respect from Indian citizens, illustrating this with an anecdote about a taxi driver in India who refused payment, a gesture that deeply touched him. He stated the affection and respect the Afghan team has received off the field, which has added to their positive experience in India.

"Also, off the field, a lot of people, when they recognize that we are Afghanistan team players, they give a lot of respect and love to us. One of the guys, a taxi driver, even took me on (a) ride. In the end, he didn't take money from me. That's how people give us love here in India. We enjoy that and we are thankful for that," added the Afghan skipper.

Under Shahidi's leadership, the Afghanistan team has undergone a notable transformation. Acknowledging the team's previously modest World Cup history, Shahidi pointed out that a shift in belief was crucial for their current success. He opined that the team now feels on par with top-level teams, attributing this progress to a combination of talent, hard work, and most importantly, belief in their capabilities.

"We didn't have a good past in World Cup history - we only (had) won one game. But coming to this World Cup, we believed that we can do better. The gap (with other teams) that we had before, I think it's now like I feel we are equal to the teams that are at the top level. We might be still learning, but talent-wise, we are a good team. It's the talent that we have in the team and the hard work that we did in the recent past. More importantly, we have (the) belief. We have (the) belief that we can do, we can achieve," stated the 29-year-old.

It is worth mentioning that Afghanistan's remarkable journey in the current World Cup includes victories over former champions like England and Pakistan. A win against Australia in the upcoming game on Tuesday will make them prime contenders to clinch the semi-final spot.