Members of Australia's Afghan community have turned out to welcome the Afghanistan cricket team as they arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday for the Cricket World Cup.
Bowler Mirwais Ashraf told SBS the team had been moved by the showing.
"We feel proud today," he said. "We saw that crowd of Afghanistan community here in Australia."
Assistant coach Peter Anderson told the supporters at the event that the team members were role models.
"The two greatest things you can give your kids are education and sport and cricket is the biggest peace movement in Afghanistan and these guys here are wonderful role models," he said.
Signed shirts and balls were auctioned off to raise money for youth charities in Afghanistan.
The players and supporters were hoping the team's showing at the World Cup will lead to Afghanistan playing in the test arena.
Assistant coach Peter Anderson is firm in his belief they can make the grade.
"We've got a great future," he said. "I honestly believe within three years we can play test cricket."
After losing this week’s warm-up match to India by 153 runs, head coach Andy Moles told SBS they were still looking to upset some big names.
"We hope to win two or three games and make it through to the quarter-finals," he said.
With host nations Australia and New Zealand in their group - in addition to England and Sri Lanka - making the top four will be a tough order.
Afghanistan's first match is against Bangladesh in Canberra on Wednesday.
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