Afghanistan's hopes of clinching a 2011 Cricket World Cup place just eight years after the national team was formed were all but dashed after a loss to Canada.
The sporting heroes of the war-torn nation lost by six wickets in Pretoria and with other leading teams Ireland, Kenya and Netherlands also winning, the Afghans need a miracle to squeeze through.
Afghanistan must hope the Kenyans and Dutch lose their remaining two World Cup Qualifier Super 8 matches this week, while they defeat title holders Scotland and Namibia.
Net run rate would then decide which countries fill the four places on offer for the quadrennial world cricket showpiece in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
