KARACHI: By 1:00pm, all the roads leading to Karachi`s National Bank Stadium were a sea of red, green and black.

Motorbikes weaved through traffic, their riders draped in Afghanistan flag. Cars packed with families honked to the rhythm of Pashto folk songs.

Fathers balanced toddlers on their shoulders, tiny fists clutching paper flags. Teens in embroidered kufi caps and emerald scarves mimicking Afghanistan`s colours belted folk songs into the midday haze.

Afghanistan, a team forged in exile and honed on Pakistan`s pitches, had found a home crowd 1,200 kilometers from Kabul.

Shopkeepers like Shiraz, whoowns a tea stall near Gulshan-eIqbal, had shuttered their businesses early.

`Not every day you get to witness Afghanistan play here,` he said, grinning. `I wasn`t going to miss this.

For Karachi`s Afghan community a vibrant tapestry of over 2.5 million this wasn`t just a cricket match. It was a homecoming, a celebration of shared roots, and a chance to cheer for a team who felt like kin.

The journey to the stadium was a spectacle in itself. Fans like Saifullah, who traveled from Balochistan with friends, embodied the day`s spirit.

`I love Pakistan, and I love Afghanistan too,` he said, his voice trembling with excitement. `Today, I`ll witness my heroes for the first time.Security was tight, with prison vans parked ominously near the gates. Fans clad in traditional pakol hats and scarves queued patiently, their enthusiasm undimmed by delays.

`For how long will they stop us?` grumbled one fan, his Afghan jersey soaked in sweat under the humid, cloudy sky.

Police checked IDs rigorously. Some fans without paperwork were escorted away, their protests drowned by the crowd`s roar. Inside, the stadium`s mosque overflowed with worshippers during Friday prayers.

`I prayed for my team to win,` an Afghan fan said.

When Afghanistan took the field, the crowd erupted. Every dot ball drew cheers; every misfield elicited mock groans. The first breakthrough came in thesixth over, courtesy of Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan`s evergreen off-spinner.

The male-dominated crowd broke into the Attan, a traditional Pashtun dance, their clapping and spinning synchronised to the beat of drums. Nabi, ever stoic, celebrated with a quiet nod.

But the loudest cheers were reserved for Rashid Khan.

Every time he neared the boundary, fans rushed to the Younis Khan enclosure, straining against the grills for a glimpse of their hero. Police officers gently pushed them back, but the crowd`s adoration was unstoppable. Even Rashid`s juggling act with the ball a casual display of skill drew roars of approval.

South Africa, however, were not rattled. Opener RyanRickelton anchored the innings with a composed century, his boundaries met with polite applause. The Afghan crowd, fiercely partisan, reserved their energy for their team. Only when Rickelton reached his hundred did they grudgingly acknowledge the feat.

Afghanistan fought back in death overs, with Rashid and Nabi tightening the screws. But Wiaan Mulder`s late blitz, capped by a six off the final ball, pushed South Africa to a massive 315. The crowd sighed but didn`t lose hope.

Afghanistan`s reply was already in shambles when Lungi Ngidi dismissed the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the fifth over. The crowd fell silent, their flags drooping momentarily.

Ibrahim Zadran briefly reig-nited hope with a glorious six off Kagiso Rabada. But Rabada, ever the predator, retaliated with a thunderbolt that shattered Ibrahim`s stumps. The stadium groaned, their dreams slipping away.

However, the crowd stayed for Rashid. And the right-hander didn`t disappoint as his brief stay was full of fireworks. The crowd erupted at every shot he played.

As soon as Rashid was dismissed, they started to leave. Afghanistan`s chase fizzled out in the 44th over as Rahmat Shah, the lone-warrior was dismissed.

Wicket-keeper batter Gurbaz thanked the crowd who showed up in big numbers to support.

`We don`t play international cricket in Afghanistan but today it felt like home. It felt so good,` the opener said.