Tristan Lavalette charts how, from the wreckage of war, a cricket team has risen to offer a genuine challenge to the giants of the global stage

He can bat, too! Afghanistan’s Shapoor Zadran celebrates hitting the winning runs in his country’s win over Scotland in the 2015 World Cup
PICTURE: Getty Images

Their pacemen quickly became cult favourites.
Shapoor Zadran, the one with the long, unkempt hair, had a ludicrous run-up. Hamid Hassan, his partner in crime, wore colourful war paint and celebrated wickets with cartwheels. It’s fair to say Afghan...