Aljazeera well take you on a journey with just diverse wildlife to be joined by a marine by mentioning that and also on generation x. Well be discussing the impact the potential Uncontrolled Development could handle on these diverse what like species living here if im protected. Hello and welcome again to everyone im come on santa maria youre on rewind were revisiting some of the best and most influential programs from more than a decade of documentaries in the aljazeera archive as well as bringing you news of how the story has moved on since i can 979 the world woke up to news that the russian army had swept across the border into afghanistan in an attempt to prop up the communist government there it followed 18 months of civil unrest after the Peoples Democratic party seized power in 178. 00 however the p. D. P. Radical plans including land reforms and equality of the sexes as well as modernizing traditional islamic civil and marriage laws it all spawned the guerrilla Resistance Movement known as the mujahideen what followed was a decade of bloody civil war with pakistan in the United States covertly supporting the islamic rebels against russian backed Government Forces it was the beginning of 4 decades of violence and unrest for that troubled country back in 2009 aljazeera sports presenter Andy Richardson discovered that the turbulence all those early he has had had a surprising side effect here is proud to be an afghan. Co white isnt the most obvious of places for any cricketing story to begin but it was here in 2007 that afghanistan won their 1st ever continental trophy and theyre back here again in 2010 playing in another Asian Cricket Council event now 3 years ago 2028 was just starting to take hold of the cricketing world and wed heard reports that one emerging team in particular was pretty good at it that team of course was afghanistan. This was the moment back in 2007 when afghanistan thought theyd become asias inaugural 2020 champions. In fact the chaos was just beginning the match was about to controversially be declared thats why. 6 6 6 thankfully for all concerned the bulk of the event had passed off in somewhat calmer 1st in. Afghanistan were it seems intent on getting hold of their 1st major trophy all day you would love to play this game so there is no cause after. You have a talented teams and not only the National Side we were all very good games as well. In the history of our downforce you know this is the 1st time that iran has done. That the country was. They were already learning how to celebrate this was the low key manner in which afghanistan marks their semifinal victory against the United Arab Emirates. The final was against armaan and established force in asian cricket and it seemed every afghan living in kuwait was in attendance the match went down to the last ball armands batsman needed just a single run to tie the schools. Was was. Now at this point it appeared the afghan scene had warned. That but on the sidelines some official forehead wrinkling had begun suddenly the results was in doubts and yet after a little more arithmetic and for talking the match was declared a toy im on an afghanistan with joint champions. And others innovation and i got his gun owner in the credit of the doubt are going to miss out are very happy and this is that as a proud day out by my life. The trophy may not have stayed around for long but afghanistans cricket team had a right. That was a change you know what pick it up a lot of support from the people i think there was 14000 people was going to watch the Magic Johnson that was that was so from that time didnt the players one thing that we should need to win the straw moment but we didnt get any trophy before that and then we get back to kabul afghanistan a lot of people come to our hotel and are thus hearing that the players in this elaborate enough so that. People just love to play cricket and watch to because of the casino to them and whether that victory changed cricket in our country before that everyone said to us youre wasting your time the government wont support you guys people dont know about cricket theres no reason for you guys to play but when we won that tournament it changed peoples minds people saw that something good can come from cricket and looking that was a real turning point for them because that gave them a lot of confidence that they can beat any team in asia that has inspired them and now the only thing they want is to rein. Not being number 2. Is fantastic. The history of cricket in afghanistan is also a history of occupation and conflict the 1st recorded match in the country was between british soldiers back in the 19th century and the ongoing conflict means this side as yet supply an International Match in their own country but for the origins of this thing you have to go back to another war itself it afghan war of the 1970 s. And eightys. In 1979 the serviette army thank you duf gonna stand. Hundreds of thousands of afghans sought refuge in neighboring pakistan. In the years that followed more than 3000000 afghans were forced over the border and into refugee camps. It was here that a generation of young afghans found themselves playing and watching a new game that was already a longest operation passion in pakistan. That game was cricket. These days rice armont see. A key members of the afghanistan cricket same both were brought up in refugee camps near the shower in pakistans Northwest Frontier Province that earliest crickets in memories seeing t. V. Pictures of the 9092 world cup a tournament that was won by pakistan. I was in the bad a bear refugee camp when we 1st went there we used to play. A game thats like baseball but then came the 992 world cup and suddenly cricket was everywhere everyone was talking about it we all started playing and i became good very quickly i was in school and that charming to have when i was in the refugee camp and particularly. In pakistan when the 1902 world cup was in the in the park lost in that time. Everyone was happy the teacher was deliberately sure that all pakistan in the world could be would say thats whats whats whats what of course slowly slowly will start to reckon with a tennis ball or maybe 5 or 6 years we played without shoes or without anything cricket and then the 50 or 40 fives indignity. Or that was small and it bounced sikandar was part of the pakistan saying that 192. 00 world cup hes now the Asian Cricket Councils man in afghanistan overseeing the Games Development and mentoring this court of law is 92 world cups and the discussion of race because that was a great inspiration you know from a captain who led from the front a team that responded so positively i was very fortunate to be part of the team that came back from no way to become the World Champion afghanistan when we has been at war for the last 30 years now they have seen nothing but war and then moving from im going to stand to pakistan living in there if you do camps and made them really really tough and that is the toughness that is. Very evident in the matches that theyre playing they dont care about the bouncy beaches they dont care about turning pitches you know if its a bad pitch or bad conditions they dont care about that the only thing they know and they want to do is do a. Few players better in body that spirit than hamid hassan that seems fastest bowler he also led his cricket in a refugee camp he remembers the day a fellow player at sensitive convince his father it was time for the young can mate to start taking cricket seriously. He came to our home apparently says to my dad let them go home we need to plan for afghanistan and he says no i can let them go because he i want to make him a teacher like a doctor like ingenius or he dont want to play cricket and i said to my dad i love to play cricket just give me a test. First time i want to run in 2000 through to travel in a play cricket in 1st game i took 4 wickets. And also had some success in the matter. Everybody who is going where he came from. This is the ground where he made 1st played in kabul right now its the only dress pitch in afghanistan but more are planned and that seems shared ambition is to one day play an International Match in their home country if you played. Against pakistan or against bangladesh or against any wall full member country if he if he for why. Certainly people im sure 100000 people will be come to watch the match cricket was yes played there but in a very small way now its the number one game in a gun a stand. That is taking them away from the streets. Where the only thing they knew was to carry guns and fight now instead of guns they killing cricket bats. This team has now carried their bats around the world. In cricket the name afghanistan is associated only with success and progress. But no one could have guessed just how good this side was about. Afghanistans cricket team was formally recognized by the sports world governing body in 2001 at the time they had no world ranking and no home ground they did have was a supremely talented generation of players and so began one of the most unlikely journeys in sporting history. The european Channel Island of jersey was afghanistans next stop with the financial backing of the international and Asian Cricket Councils the team were entered into division 5 of the World Cricket League the lowest tier of the international game. Or kabul they certainly wasnt but a familiar scene was soon to unfold afghan cricketers celebrating a tournament win on foreign soil now for. More titles followed in asia africa even south america the refugee camps where it all began suddenly seemed a long way away before. Ford was that im going to get back to Something Else i thought ago we had a coach who told us that cricket would give us the chance to see the world and i thought he was crazy how could we ever go to europe or the rest of the world he taught all of the players that. That respect the pads. Respect you were kate respect you were. Respect you were your your your all cricket equipment and you guys will be trivial by the way the reason of cricket you will be. Doing that if you. Specially i will thing that the whole award will be the same. The whole will be saying that same kind of how simple life no television no electricity no into the we dont know about mentor name. They didnt even know how to show it good the only thing they knew was to just get on the donkey and cross the border going to pakistan their attitude has changed. You know their warrior instinct is still there but its mellowed down a bit by now afghanistan had a full time coach overseeing their rise through the World Rankings former pakistan test player cab a car on board in push our work where most of the players had also started life there was an immediate bond sometimes ask them a question what is your dream what do you want to do and what will be your best moment and this is our best moment of your life is when our flag goes up and when our National Anthem is me. Being played there in the studio they say we love those boards and we play for that there was some help as well obviously from. From there because in the game going to a losing rain came in some sometimes and you think badly Cayman Island and it would be trained only for 56 and i would just just look at it. And ive never seen that in my life. By early 2010 the team had made it as far as dubai. And the final qualifiers for that see 20 world cup there defining game was against the United Arab Emirates one more win in a world cup. Place would be there as. The high stakes were reflected in some visibly nervy performances. The u. A. E. Schooled just 100 runs in that 20 overs. I. Afghanistan had chased ball biggest schools all over the world but never with saw much riding on the outcome. It was now that all their hard earned experience of life and cricket can together they held their collective nerve and the winning runs were scored with just 3 goals to spare. Afghanistan were on their way to the world cup. The kept a no rules mungle told me that. Scratch me that im dreaming or know if you qualify for the world cup. I said there was one girl who qualified for the work of a new play in the world cup. So now this team is getting ready to go to the t 20 world cup in the west indies afghanistan ranked as one of the 12 best sides in the world but their draw well that could hardly be toughened up against the 2007 World Champions india and one of the favorites to win the tournament south africa i think these 2 countries in in the in in in my mind number one in number between the board and right now cricket bowling batting feeling everything is 100 points and but our players is going to beat your and they played in different conditions but we will be not easy for them. For india or for. Every single one of them and im hearing them talking amongst themselves theyre only talking about winning the game our nation is all it wants to win the world cup so thats another sometimes i take it as pressure sometimes i think its good for the players as well because the players are not thinking about anything of they just werent thinking about winning the games remember the wider cricketing world has heard much but seen little of afghanistan up till now that its all about situations racial and theyve gone from role lots of call in the polish diamonds terrific ambassadors for their game for their country and for the spirits of human success other countries have grounds theyve got facilities got nets they got bats and balls the equipment ive got nothing till has very little these cricket is represent the absolute pinnacle of their sport and their country. On may the 1st the caribbean island of solutia will be the stage for afghanistans 1st world cup match against india. The Afghanistan Cricket Team on their own terms and in defiance of sporting logic will be standing side by side with the worlds best. 8 when you see other teams quitting their grounds their facilities and others and you think ok they have got a bit of edge on you but then if there were no laws in the world cup thats going to be another story but its just theyre still my heroes and obviously i personally think that im proud of this team. Riyad there doing for peace and 3 want to change the mind of the people that the water water is really bad and we want that the whole country to come like like like the unity like we have in our team. We have not the cities legarda countries have us to know how ground kidneys nothing nor centuries and we are just being for our country and we replay far from hard. For our country to represent our country. Proud to be an afghan from 2009 well what better way to catch up with this film than with 2 of its main players in the studio with us here Andy Richardson of course who created that film in 2009 and joining us from kabul as well weve got reasons i know who you also saw there so gentlemen thank you so much for joining us do appreciate it and lets start with you what has become of this afghan team since 2009 im thinking about actually 29000 cricket world cup in england the 10 top teams in the world and afghanistans in amongst them its been an incredible story i mean we were really lucky to aljazeera really look at the chance across them if you like we went to a tournament in kuwait in 2007 and it wasnt covered afghanistan cricket saying it was to cover the emergence of 2020 cricket and how important it was going to be for the future of developing cricketing nations but as soon as we got there to this tournament it was very quickly apparent it was one star team then that was afghanistan everybody was talking about them even though the tournament was being played in kuwait they had hundreds of expat fans all around the ground watching them and it was very quickly apparent that they were going to be the rising stars in this one its a to tell you that the teams they were playing in 2007 at the start of the film hong kong kuwaits malaysia no power omar qatar saudi arabia singapore and the u. A. E. Are not the worlds greatest theres 119. 00 and theyre playing their part of the top 10 in the world so its been an incredible journey in the fact that from 2007 when we 1st found them they were in a world cup of tea 20 world cup within 3 years it shows you how much talent that Country House well lets bring rhys in then from kabul well what do you 1st of all tell us what youre actually up to these days im working with. I want to start a cricket war. I was i was a good note. I took away retirement from the International Cricket in 2010 i become the after one year i became the head of Selection Committee and. Director of what is not a very good ward and different position work with the junior level players work with the National Side but now our days im working with the one in stand under 19 our team is a head coach race its on the head great to see younger now than you did 10 years ago. First of all the experiences you had 10 years ago when you were playing with that emerging scene one of the key messages you try and give to Young Players now the specially the messages for the for the for the young generation and we are just feeling their way we start cricket with nothing to sell it is and im going to stay on lots of people have no idea what cricket everyone was just saying that cricket is belong but when its on belong to pakistan because there are a few people who when they come from pakistan the people of kabul they were thinking that cricket is a pakistani game but there was no idea and now everyone knows about cricket cricket is really a popular game and we are in the young generation we are the of the are very lucky the idea of our good good support from the family side the government supporting the cricket board is supporting so cricket is the number one sport and im going to stand all the youngsters want to play cricket so does cricket have a positive knock on effect for young people in fact for the whole country race when we think about afghanistan we think unfortunately about war and unrest sports does cricket specifically have a positive impact there. Yeah were going to give you youre going to give a good name or 2 to understand i remember when i was the captain when we were going to do we had a match and i cant remember the exact name of the religion i think it was a link it was a very small village we had a cricket match there and the people of that really do as ive no idea about about im going to start they were just you were just new of where you stand because you just up war and you mentioned at the start of this you talked about t 20 cricket 2020 cricket the short version of the game which is actually where all the money is now theres all these circuits all over the world and theyre out there cricket is making money have there been afghan players whove managed to get into that as well i think one of the really interesting things about afghanistan cricket in cricket is that the culture is immersion a very different way in a recent referring to it there we think of it as a game that is the product of british colonialism it was left as a legacy of empire if you like afghanistan cricket is merged in a completely different way and these guys 15 years ago were learning cricket in pakistan in refugee camps there was no legacy from from the english and as a consequence they learned their cricket in a very tough way street cricket playing table cricket meant bowlers emerged of the world of the like no one had ever seen in the world and as a consequence now they are like gold dust amazing changes since 2000 and isnt it gentlemen great to have both of you with us. I thank you for joining us from kabul afghanistan to victory with us here in the studio and that is it for this week but do check out the rewind page out of the were dot com for more films from the series im Kemal Santamaria from the whole team thanks for joining us and well see. Rewind returns with a new scenery and brand new updates on the past amount to serious documentaries or thinking. That its done just going to rewind continues with saving some wet eye seeing the light 10 years later the plot over you average person for a community in south africa is a little bit of this is a great motivator for us to keep giving back to these communities on aljazeera. Just as it breaks from casting not only against a Police Crackdown but also against what they call our election with details coverage more than 300000 people have lost their jobs because of the protests and feel is generalism from around the world following reports that officials were aware of the presence of highly explosive material there are plans for mass demonstrations. Selfless acts human brain 10000 precious pieces of literature rescued from being technicians in a besieged sari. Meets the bosnian women and men who risked everything to save their its imperative. The love of books on aljazeera. When the u. S. Sanctions were violated we enforced them wednesday when sanctions are violated were going to do everything we can to enforce them as well. The u. S. Formulate requests old u. N. Sanctions on iran be restored accusing tatiana violating the 2050 nuclear deal Major International powers are not on board