Afghans win 'Spirit of Sport'

Afghanistan have won the Laureus "Spirit of Sport" award in recognition of their swift rise in world cricket and their maiden qualification to the one-day World Cup. Afghanistan have also qualified for two successive World T20s, and are now established as one of the strongest teams outside the Test nations.
"Afghanistan's success on the pitch has, indeed, captured the imagination of the whole cricketing world," a Laureus release said, after the awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur. "The enthusiasm for the game shown especially by young players, often against almost insurmountable odds in terms of pitches and facilities, is a story being told again and again."
Noor Mohammad Murad, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, accepted the award on behalf of the team.