15 February,2010 07:55 AM IST | | Correspondent
Jubilant Afghan cricketers said Sunday they were ready to take on the world's best players and strive to make their war-ravaged country proud after they qualified for the World Twenty20 finals.
Afghanistan beat Ireland by eight wickets in the weekend qualifier in Dubai and progress to the third World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April-Mayu00a0-- the first major tournament for the Afghan team.
"We will have matches against India and South Africa. We will be working hard to upset one of the teams," said batting all-rounder Karim Sadiq, whose team will be in Group C with India and South Africa.
The 25-year-old predicted big celebrations over the team's qualification in his homeland, where Afghan, US and NATO troops are battling a Taliban insurgency in a country battered by decades of war.
"People in my country are very happy, and there will be big celebrations in Afghanistan when we return," he told AFP by phone from Dubai. "I think maybe three million people will come to the city to celebrate and dance."
Sadiq, who scored an aggressive 15-ball 34 in the final, said he will prepare extensively for the World Twenty20.
"I will go to Afghanistan and practice on a 14-metre wicket against fast bowlers where the ball will be coming at 160-165 kilometres (per hour) and I will practice just hitting and hitting," he said.
"Dale Steyn will be no problem," said Sadiq of the South African spearhead.
Two Steyns
"He bowls at 150 or 145 (kilometres per hour) --u00a0we have Hamid Hassan who bowls at 145 and Shapoor Zadran and we hit sixes in every over off them back in Afghanistan."
Leg-spinner Samiullah Shenwari said the qualification was a dream come true for Afghanistan's players.
