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The Offspin’s team and the Afghanistan cricket team (Getty Images).
The Offspin’s team and the Afghanistan cricket team (Getty Images).

Cricket World Cup 2019June 9, 2019

The Offspin podcast: The romantic Afghanistan cricket story faces up to reality

The Offspin’s team and the Afghanistan cricket team (Getty Images).
The Offspin’s team and the Afghanistan cricket team (Getty Images).

In the fifth episode of The Offspin, we’re joined by Basir Safi and Ismail Wardak, two Kiwi-Afghan cricket lovers who talk about learning the game in refugee camps, the incredible story of Afghanistan’s ascent and the high expectations the world now holds for them. 

Another day, another win at the Cricket World Cup for the Black Caps. So why doesn’t this one feel quite so good? Is it because maybe, deep down we all want to see Afghanistan succeed?

In the end, it wasn’t to be, with the newest cricketing power in the tournament unable to set a good enough target to defend. But we still have an awesome show, with Kiwi-Afghan cricket lovers Basir Safi and Ismail Wardak in the studio to share their stories, the shared importance of the 1992 World Cup, and the story of Afghanistan cricket.

Plus, all of the burning questions around the last few days of cricket get addressed, like why is Kane Williamson scoring so slow, are the umpires biased against the West Indies, and how painful is it to see Australia grimly finding ways to win.

Download this episode (right click and save), listen on the player below, subscribe on iTunes or via Spotify.

L- R Simon Day, Ismail Wardak, and Basir Safi. (Photo: Alice Webb-Liddall).

For the next six weeks, join hosts Simon Day, Alex Braae and a rotating squad of sloggers, change bowlers and outfielders on The Offspin after each of the New Zealand team’s games. With the Black Caps playing all their games at wildly inconvenient overnight times, Simon and Alex will be swapping sleep for cricket, then rolling into the studio to drink Coffee Supreme (proud sponsors of The Offspin) and offer their expert analysis of the World Cup.

Like, share and subscribe to The Offspin, and drink Coffee Supreme to keep you alive after long nights of cricket this World Cup.

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