Afghanistan Premier League, a tribute to Afghanistan's rise: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

NEW DELHI: Former Indian leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan was effusive in his praise for the rise of Afghanistan as a cricket force adding that it was only inevitable that the Afghanistan Premier League came to the fore.
In his column for the Times of India, Sivaramakrishnan wrote, "Afghanistan's growing stature as a cricketing entity, and their increasing popularity with the fans who have been captivated by their fearless, free-flowing game, have been encouraging developments.Given the national team's successes on the global stage, the Afghanistan Premier League was inevitable. The inaugural edition, to be staged in Sharjah from October 5 to 21, will bring together some of the most celebrated names in the T20 game, a tribute to not just the pulling power of the format but also to the giant strides Afghan cricket has made in a short span of time."
Exposure to Twenty20 leagues in India, Australia, the West Indies, Bangladesh and England have added a new dimension to the skills of Afghanistan players.
"The massive support Afghanistan received in both Abu Dhabi, where they played a majority of their games, and Dubai shows how popular the team is, the perfect shot in the arm leading up to the maiden APL edition. Till now, only a few of the Afghan players, notably Rashid, Mujeeb and Mohammad Nabi, have had significant taste of franchise-based T20 cricket. While these three are pillars of Afghan cricket, the team has been somewhat hampered by the relative lack of experience of the other players. Now that Afghanistan have a league of their own, that might change", Sivaramakrishnan added.
Fast-rising Afghanistan, who had to qualify for the World Cup, proved they will be a thorn for many teams with their wicket-taking spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman and a never-say-die spirit.
"Just last week, the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Mohammad Shahzad were wowing cricket-lovers in the United Arab Emirates with their wonderful exploits in the Asia Cup. Afghanistan were distinctly unlucky to not make it to the finals, losing last-over thrillers in the Super Fours to Bangladesh and Pakistan, and grabbing a tie against India, the eventual champions. The massive support Afghanistan received in both Abu Dhabi, where they played a majority of their games, and Dubai shows how popular the team is, the perfect shot in the arm leading up to the maiden edition of the APL," Sivaramakrishnan opined.
Afghanistan shocked Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the first round at the Asia Cup. Only a three-run defeat off the last ball against Bangladesh deprived Afghanistan from a place in the final.
"Hitherto, only a few of the Afghan players, notably Rashid, Mujeeb and Mohammad Nabi, have had significant taste of franchise-based T20 cricket, both in the Indian Premier League and in other leagues around the world. While these three are pillars of Afghan cricket, the team has been somewhat hampered by the relative lack of experience of the other players, who haven't been exposed to the glitz and the pressure of big-ticket cricket as frequently as they would have liked. Now that Afghanistan have a league of their own and a tournament that has attracted such names as Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi, more and more players will benefit from rubbing shoulders with these virtuosos," Sivaramakrishnan wrote.
Afghanistan featuring in the semi-final of Junior World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year and winning the Junior Asia Cup in Malaysia in the presence of India and Pakistan mean they have a bright future.
"It is by sharing dressing-rooms with established superstars, and feeding off their knowledge, wisdom and experience, that Afghanistan cricket will continue to move in the right direction. The APL is a massive boon for the younger players in particular. I foresee a sparkling future for Afghanistan cricket," Sivaramakrishnan concluded.