Afghan Refugees In Delhi Swing Between Hope And Despair During World Cup

Little Romil Wakil, just five years old, enjoys playing cricket with his older brother Idris, who is 15. However, Romil has no idea who Rashid Khan is.

Idris is aware of Rashid Khan but hasn't watched the Afghan cricketer's performances. Rashid led Afghanistan to their first T20 World Cup semi-final in the West Indies.

Idris and his family are refugees in Delhi, struggling to survive. They don't have time to follow cricket scores amidst their daily challenges.

Idris' family used to live in South Delhi's Bhogal area but were evicted for not paying rent. Now, they sit outside the UNHCR office in Vasant Vihar, seeking help.

"Celebrations! How can I watch cricket? Me and my family are languishing at this Vasant Vihar footpath. We are fighting for resettlement. There is no joy in our lives, how will I watch cricket?" said Idris.

His elder sisters, mother, aunt, and little brother watched him as he narrated the family's ordeal.

"Will cricket ease our pain? We sit on the road and someone pours a bucket full of water on us as if we are street dogs. The police then comes, takes us along and then tells us to leave in the evenings. You want us to celebrate a cricket win?" another refugee Husna vented out her ire.

The asylum and resettlement process isn't easy. When PTI sought a response from UNHCR, an automated reply stated: "Registration and/or recognition of refugee status by UNHCR does not necessarily mean that the individual will be referred for resettlement. Resettlement is not a right. It is also not an application-based process."

"We can't go back. Taliban or their spies will kill us," Idris said with a cold look in his eyes.

Different Perspectives

Fazal Bari works in a restaurant in Lajpat Nagar, an area with many Afghans. He believes Afghanistan's victory will change its image positively.

"I watched each and every match. Obviously Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib are my favourite cricketers. Cricket is everything in Afghanistan. My brothers are sending me videos of how people are celebrating this win," Bari said.

Bari left Afghanistan due to uncertainty and unrest in 2021. He now feels happy living in India but longs to return home someday.

Hope Amidst Hardship

Mohammed Ismail couldn't hide his happiness when recalling meeting Rashid Khan in Delhi. "My favourite player is Rahmanullah Gurbaz but it was great meeting Rashid Khan," he smiled.

Ismail supports equal opportunities for women athletes in Afghanistan despite their current restrictions under Taliban rule.

Sitting 13,562km away in Arnos Vale, Rashid Khan and other Afghan cricketers might not know about these refugees' struggles and dreams.

Kabul, Kandahar or Khost remains close to their hearts but Delhi is where they seek refuge and hope for a better future.