Afghanistan is at long odds for tomorrow's World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Dunedin.
Very long odds, actually, but that is nothing new. Basically, the country has gone from having no organised cricket 13 years ago to the World Cup finals.
Regardless of what happens during the remainder of the tournament, the team has already beaten the odds.
That said, Afghanistan is not here just to soak up the atmosphere and collect warm fuzzies from a well-wishing cricket community.
Captain Mohammad Nabi believes Afghanistan can compete.
But judging by the sparkle in his eyes and his wide smile, he is pretty proud of the team's efforts just to qualify.
''Every tournament was do or die,'' the 30-year-old said.
''If you didn't win that tournament you didn't qualify for the next or move to the next stage.''
Afghanistan's World Cup debut was against Bangladesh in Canberra on Wednesday night.
Its bowling line-up put Bangladesh under plenty of pressure, particularly in the first 30 or so overs.
Afghanistan had to make do without legspinner Samiullah Shenwari, who was removed from the attack after just seven deliveries for running on the wicket, so it was a good effort to restrict the Tigers to 267.
Afghanistan's reply was crippled with the loss of three wickets in the first three overs.
Shenwari resisted with a patient 42 and Nabi added 43 from 44 deliveries.
But the Afghans were dismissed for 162, losing by 105 runs.
Nabi suggested the pressure rather got to his side.
''It was very exciting for everyone and also for the whole country. We lost that game but we learnt a lot from that, as well.
''The first 35 overs we bowled brilliantly and also brilliant fielding as well. But in the last 15 overs they took the game away and scored more runs than we wanted.
''Also we were three down early and this is the match-changing part, I think.''
Sri Lanka's formidable batting line-up should present more problems than Bangladesh's batting order.
With world-class players like Kumar Sangakarra, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakartne Dilshan in the side, the Afghanistan attack will have to bowl with a lot of discipline.
But it is batting where Afghanistan may struggle the most.
It has only played Sri Lanka once. That was during the Asia Cup in 2014 and it managed only 124 in reply to 253 for six.
Sri Lanka is likely to follow New Zealand's lead and bowl first, if it wins the toss.
The thinking is if you can dismiss your opponent cheaply, you can then throw everything into the run chase and beef up your team's net run rate.
Nabi will have other ideas.
He is a key player in the middle order. In 46 ODIs he has scored 1113 runs at an average of 31.80.
He is a strong player who scores at a rapid clip (90.04 strike rate) and is also a useful right-arm spinner with 43 wickets at 36.74.
Opening bowler Hamid Hassan is another to look out for.
He will be easy to spot. He is a throwback to the 1980s, in his flannel headband and he also likes to paint the team's colours on his face.
