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Afghani bowler Hamid Hassan's celebration after dismissing Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday made it all the way to the Wall Street Journal.
And the 27-year-old, whose Rambo-esque red bandana and war paint have made him something of a cult hero during his country's first World Cup tilt, was at it again on Thursday in Dunedin, adding the commando roll to his burgeoning bag of tricks.
The latest display came after Hassan pulled off an athletic diving catch to send Scotland's Josh Davey on his way.
Hamid hassan
#CWC15
#AFGvSCO
pic.twitter.com/CgQ1b4ibgU — PAPPU Patwaari (@Baalii)
February 26, 2015
It has been a long road to Australasia for cricket in Afghanistan. The national team was only formed in 2001, and secured qualification for the 50-over showpiece after beating Kenya into second spot in the World Cricket League championship.
Time may now be against him in a sport which favours youth perhaps more than any other, but with Afghanistan being welcomed into the International Gymnastics Federation less than two years ago and the Rio Olympics on the horizon, the gentleman's game may just have a code-hopper of its own in the ranks.
Fairfax Media