In the words of Earl Warren – “I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people’s accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures.”

And so it is that Afghanistan make their big-screen debut at cricket’s ICC World Twenty20 tournament in about half an hour from now.

A team from a war-torn, dysfunctional country, with half their players born in refugee camps, they narrowly missed qualifying for the 2007 World Cup. But they are here this time after a string of victories including one over the United States in the qualifying tournament. They have surprised other Associate teams too during their stunning rise from Division Five to a world event. It’s been a fairy tale journey for a country where, despite successfully banning just about everything else the Taliban weren’t able to stamp out the sport.

Their opponents, India, will not be taking the match for granted. It was a first-match loss to perceived minnows Bangladesh three years ago that knocked them out of the 50-over World Cup. A win against Afghanistan, no matter what the margin, will more or less assure them a place in the next round, but supporters of underdogs everywhere (including TheEye) will be rooting for an upset.