Afghanistan's 21-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup Super 8 has sparked widespread emotional responses and boosted their chances of reaching the semifinals for the first time. Captain Rashid Khan expressed immense happiness, noting that the win avenged a previous loss to Australia and provides much-needed joy to the Afghan people. Australian opener Usman Khawaja praised Afghanistan's performance and criticized Cricket Australia's decision to cancel bilateral series with Afghanistan due to human rights concerns under Taliban rule. Cricket Australia has consistently refused to engage in matches with Afghanistan citing the Taliban's restrictions on women's participation in sports. Despite these cancellations, Afghanistan's win underscores their resilience and the significance of cricket as a source of national pride and happiness.