Afghan Cricket Club - Out of the Ashes Storyville

This programme contains some strong language.

COMMENTATOR: We're all set here for this first match in Group C.

India taking on Afghanistan.

Don't forget, the side is here not out of any largesse,

they won the right to be here.

It's a very special occasion here for Afghanistan.

He's gone for it as well! Well done, Afghanistan!

CO-COMMENTATOR: Here they are on the world stage.

It really is a fantastic story.

BELL RINGS

RADIO:

As you know, there is a lot of problems in the world today, you know?

In everywhere, there is complex fighting, you know?

And just things happening.

The solution of all the problem is...

..cricket.

TRANSLATION:

-All right, Taj.

-How are you?

-Very well.

Looks good! Yeah? Yeah?

I'm from the British Embassy, and we support Afghan cricket.

You can see the National Cricket Academy around us.

It's four nets and some balls.

They play cricket like war.

They judge each other by how fast they can bowl the ball,

and how hard they can hit it.

Which means that they do pretty well against teams like Qatar.

I think when they come across some opposition

with some decent spin bowlers, they're going to be stuffed!

LAUGHS

You know, I wish them the best of luck with it.

-TAJ:

-This is the time, yeah?

This is the time to do something for this country.

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

MAN ASKS QUESTION IN PASHTO

-Do you like your body, Gulbadeen?

-Very much.

How does it get so brown?

-It's colour.

-What kind of colour?

Oil. Oil.

He has amazing musculation.

I like his body very, very much.

His muscle is like Arnold muscles.

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

You see, in my life, very simple. Fantastic.

Smart boy!

I'm not nervous. I'm happy.

I'm going to mission, from start tomorrow.

Hey, man. Hey, man.

Hi. Where are you from?

-I'm from Belgium.

-Belgium?

-Yes.

-OK. You're not, er, belong to the cricket-playing nation, yeah?

-Football!

-Football!

I know.

Can you speak English? English?

HE LAUGHS

Four eyes, six eyes, yeah?

One, two, three, four, six.

-How are you?

-Good, good.

-You're from?

-America.

-America.

-Good. Bush, yeah, Bush...

-Yes.

-Good.

On my way home.

-Huh?

-I'm on my way home.

-OK.

-I'm from Afghanistan.

-Afghanistan?

Yeah?

-We're going to the Cricket World Cup 2011 now, to Jersey.

-The what?

TRANSLATION:

SINGS:

BELL RINGS

Yes, it is good. A very nice street.

Very clean, you know?

And...no noise, no music, loud music. Things are different.

If you visit, in Afghanistan, a street like this, you will hear loud music.

They don't like to wear full clothes, I think.

They don't like, yeah?

And very short skirts.

In Afghanistan you saw this kind of girls? No.

What about the girls?

Er...

I am...

But nobody looks over at me.

Hello?

Hello. How are you?

What do I do?

Where you can find the sea?

-The sea?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, if you walk to the end of here,

turn left

-and then the sea's there right in front of you.

-OK.

-OK?

-Thank you.

All right, thanks. Thank you.

PELICAN CROSSING BEEPS

TRANSLATION:

Today we play match against Japan.

And we're waiting...

-Japan.

-Japan.

-..long-long for the day.

TEAM APPLAUDS

I don't know anything about cricket.

-It's the first time.

-Because of that.

I haven't seen any game in Japan, so I didn't know

that...Japan has a team,

until I came here.

APPLAUSE

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Yes, good shot.

They're taking the lead again. They're playing good.

TEAM APPEALS FOR LBW

Yes!

Nobody should think that Afghanistan can beat Japan, because Japan is

a really advanced country and they're spending lots on athletes

but now are chances...

When they come to our cricket team, to beat them for the first time.

So I think they were making history.

# ..hugging my pillow

# Dreaming dreams of Amarillo

# And sweet Marie who waits for me

# Show me the way to Amarillo

# I've been weeping like a willow... #

Very good, eh? All old people.

I saw first time old people can dance, yeah?

# Is this the way to Amarillo?

# Every night I'm hugging my pillow

# Dreaming dreams of Amarillo... #

It's not tasty.

And in Afghanistan we have a meat kebab,

we have a very good pilau rice and different vegetables

but here, this is...

Well, it's good to be out in the nice, open, long evenings, Chopper?

Watching this type of cricket.

Wonderful. Wonderfully organised competition.

Um, I think we're probably supporting Afghanistan.

We'll always support the underdog.

Singapore are on top.

Singapore are keeping it very tight.

Yeah.

I think Singapore have done very well.

Excellent, in fact.

I think with a bit of luck Afghanistan will be out.

-Ooh, look at that.

-That's a big shot. That could be out!

He's caught it. He's caught it. Well done.

Um, I think you could find them back in Afghanistan on Saturday, the way they're playing.

-Oh, another one's gone down.

-Another wicket down, yeah.

They're behind now.

Jesus Christ.

I just think they're lacking some subtlety

that they'd get from a first-class coach. And that's...

I think so.

I'm not saying your coach is a bad coach but he's not had first-class experience, has he?

So...

-He done really well with us.

-No...

-Hasti?

-Yeah?

-What happened?

Good country for enjoyment. Not for cricket.

You have to show yourself as a symbol.

People have expectation from you, especially the coach.

-What is your dog's name?

-Edna May.

-Edna May.

-Yes. We got her from the shelter.

This cricket makes me crazy, man.

Very bad game.

Please, yeah? I'm...

It's more than cricket.

This is our chance.

# Pretty woman walking down the street

# Pretty woman

# The kind I'd like to meet

# Pretty woman

# I don't believe you

# You're not the truth

# No-one could love as good as you

# Mercy

# Pretty woman. #

-What is your dog's name?

-His name's Chip.

Chip? What a great name. Hello, Chip!

He's very friendly.

Today we have the crucial match,

the match for whom we have practised four months,

six months, and the match for whom we wait two years.

PA: 'A very good afternoon to you.

'A wonderful scene here. Hundreds of people lining

'the banks right round this wonderful, unique ground,

-'the sun beaming down on this glorious setting...'

Afghanistan could give them a pretty close tussle.

If I had to put money on it I think Jersey will win.

They're the only unbeaten side as yet and they may well carry on that way.

They look very wealthy and rich,

and my team does not have that kind of things

and facilities,

but in spirit and...strength

and power, we are better than them, I think.

TRANSLATION:

APPLAUSE

The two Afghan...

batsmen have just come out.

Afghanistan are only chasing 81.

Who knows what might happen?

WILD CHEERING

THEY CHANT

The Jersey team do seem to have that little bit more pluck in their step.

TRANSLATION:

How's that?!

Afghanistan...they've struggled.

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

THEY CHANT

One team in it - Jersey. One team in it - Jersey.

Jersey are a bit too strong.

I would say that this is typical Afghans. They are careless.

The crowd has told them they were careless,

and yet again they are showing it,

that they have no patience while they are batting.

But who knows? There is still time to go.

WILD CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

This is sensational bowling by Jersey.

CHEERING CONTINUES

Jersey are now, we can say, in a winning position.

Do you think you can still win it?

-Hm?

-Do you think you can still win it?

Now we have a 50-50 chance.

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

Hastigull is the new batsman coming in.

With Afghanistan in trouble, they need 39 to win.

APPLAUSE

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

And that really has firmly put the match...

advantage to Afghanistan.

TRANSLATION:

Who was the captain?

Well played.

Wonderful, absolutely tremendous.

I enjoyed it. Nail-biting, pressure!

Pressure!

You did good. Fantastic achievement.

Very good!

Wonderful.

Yes, absolutely fantastic.

-Thank you, sir.

-I'll bet you're happy, eh?

-Thank you.

To our winners,

Afghanistan, to think where they come from

and what is going on in their country at the moment,

to have achieved what you've done, cricket-wise, in that environment

is absolutely fantastic.

CHEERING

And now to announce man of the match...

Hastigull.

MUSIC PLAYS

TRANSLATION:

THEY CHEER

-Are you proud of your boys?

-Oh, too much.

My heroes.

They're my... I love them.

-Afghanistan!

-Zindabad!

-Afghanistan!

-Zindabad!

-Afghanistan!

-Zindabad!

And I am feeling at the moment

like I am seeing a dream, you know?

This just looks for me like a dream.

How we achieved this?

My mother told me once, "If you become champion then you will be forever champion."

HORNS HONK

DISTANT CHEERING

HE LAUGHS

HE LAUGHS

This is our new cricket ground which is under construction.

And it's located in the middle of the city.

Have a very nice view.

In June-July, this will open.

Before, I didn't have at cricket office, a special place where I could

sit and, when I'm tired, somebody could present me a tea, you know?

And a juice. So this office is now under construction.

It is completed already and only the painting and windows is left.

Then I will sit here and operate the cricket,

and my boys will practise here.

Everything is going just as we dreamed.

'The coalition's casualties in Afghanistan last month were actually higher than they were in Iraq.

'That's the result of the Bush/McCain approach to the war on terrorism.'

'Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama is campaigning in Chicago this morning,

'taking shots at the White House strategy in Afghanistan.'

We need to take more resources and put them into Afghanistan.

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

My mother cried, you know.

She says, "Why are they doing this?

"Because how much you struggle.

"I remember you, you were away

"from home seven years,

"just coming for two and three days,

"Thursday and Friday,

"and then you have served this cricket

"like a father doing for his son."

You know, just like that.

She says, "What has happened with you?"

I think before me, it was joke and joke and joke all the time.

Now it's a time for joking, and a time for serious work.

I have just divided things for them, because mentally, they are not very good at those things.

They haven't played professional cricket, so I just tell them.

Look at the drivers.

There is no justice in Afghanistan.

No justice.

If I did this for England, for New Zealand, you know, for Malaysia, I may be

rewarded by millions and I would be...a

great person in their country.

What they did with me?

HORN BLASTS

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

Taj is my brother. Every second, every minute, every time I miss Taj.

Hello!

And back. Good.

TRANSLATION:

SHOUTING AND CHEERING

TRANSLATION:

TRANSLATION:

CHEERING

CHEERING

We are near to the World Cup.

Very happy!

It was a good moment for our team and for me, and we go one step more forward.

Today we win three.

Hard work. More hard work.

Going to win in Argentina, Buenos Aires.

Yeah!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yeah!

CHEERING

MUSIC PLAYS

Yeah!

CHEERING AND WHOOPING

TRANSLATION:

CHEERING AND WHOOPING

'We took our eye off Afghanistan.

'We took our eye off the folks who perpetrated 9/11.

'You don't muddle through a front on terror and you don't muddle through going after Bin Laden'.

TRANSLATION:

CHATTER AND LAUGHTER

HE CALLS

It is almost 20 years old, you know, this place.

We started cricket from here.

The place where we use our childhood, you know?

SHOUTING AND CHEERING

TRANSLATION:

It is very emotional for me, you know?

Because I was a very young age, you know, and I used to come here.

I lived there, and I was very happy.

TRANSLATION:

This pitch I make in 1988, yeah?

This was the first ever concrete pitch, yeah?

The people were sitting in this area, yeah?

You see, you know?

All spectators used to.

That's very good. Thank you.

Thank you.

CHEERING

We just lost the third wicket.

Tough matches, very tough matches, you know.

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Afghanistan are winning.

< Are you sad you're not there to watch?

Very much, yeah.

Just like a...dream for everybody.

The players are very lucky.

CHEERING AND CHANTING

DRUMS AND MUSIC PLAYING

Very happy, but I miss Taj in every moment in Argentine.

Karim took six catches. Great man.

-I like him. He's my...

-Thank you.

CHEERING AND MUSIC

Look at the people, so happy. This is the dream of all.

This is my mission. My family mission, my player mission.

First name is Mariam,

Lybah and Zainab.

REPORTER: The war weary people of Afghanistan have their eyes and ears

trained on a new battleground.

It's a fight for supremacy in the genteel world of cricket.

It's being waged in the final cricket World Cup qualifier.

This is their time, yeah.

This is the time to do something for this country.

REPORTER: Afghanistan's cricketers could qualify for the next World Cup by beating Canada.

What started as a dream over a year ago

is now a realistic target.

VOICE ON PHONE: 'Your balance is 32 rupees.'

BEEPING

ON PHONE: '..32 rupees.'

MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO

CRACKLING AND VOICES ON RADIO

Afghanistan can do it!

APPLAUSE AND SHOUTS

Afghanistan! Yeah!

THEY CHEER

HE SHOUTS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Afghanistanis!

HE SHOUTS

ALL SHOUT

ALL SHOUT

APPLAUSE

ALL SHOUT

ON RADIO:

APPLAUSE

SHOUTING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE ON RADIO

CHEERING

CROWD CHEERS LOUDLY

COMMENTATOR: There you have it, ladies and gentlemen.

A boundary to bring to an end this run-chase.

-REPORTER:

-Afghanistan's dream of reaching the 2011 World Cup is over.

The team have just missed out on qualifying for the competition.

You are qualified! You are qualified!

-LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

-Oh, my God.

It's very bad news for my team, for our country.

And also for me.

It was our aim for one day Afghanistan to come to the World Cup

and that chance can not be coming again.

HE CHANTS

ON RADIO:

-REPORTER:

-Their amazing performance in qualifying

was enough to gain one-day international status.

That means they'll now compete with top international cricket nations.

HE LAUGHS

MAN SHOUTS, BELLS RING

HE SHOUTS AND CHEERS

CHEERING

We're all set here for this first match in the Group C.

India are taking on Afghanistan.

Don't forget, this side is here not out of any largesse.

They won the right to be here.

A very special occasion for Afghanistan and their cricket team.

It really is a fantastic story, Afghanistan making this tournament.

They look like, ready for this big stage.

Open the door...

Yes, let me open it.

Come on, I have to reach the ground. Come on.

Today we play India, the world number-one team.

I missed the flight. Look at my bad luck here. My first time here, I face my bad luck.

I saw... I really saw my bad luck.

Good to see you again.

Thank you very much. You too. Thank you, Tim.

-I'm glad you're back, Taj.

-Thanks.

The time which I was not with the team, really upset. Always thinking

but very happy that I had got something back.

I am assistant coach, you know, for this team.

So nerves, it's OK now.

They're going to be so proud when they hear the national anthem.

NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

He's gone for it as well!

Well done, Afghanistan!

They're not hanging around here.

-TAJ:

-When I become a coach in 2001,

no-one imagined that Afghanistan can be a cricket nation.

Here they are on the world stage.

So it's an amazing thing

that Afghanistan have done.

HORNS BEEP

HORNS BEEP, PEOPLE CHEER

PEOPLE CHEER AND WHISTLE

GUNFIRE

GUNFIRE

CHEERING

Afghanistan!

CHEERING

TAJ LAUGHS

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]