Sport
Afghanistan to play five T20Is against Ireland in August

Afghanistan Cricket Board on Friday confirmed that the national men’s team will tour Ireland from August 9 to 17 and will play five T20Is against their hosts.
Afghanistan’s tour was initially scheduled to include a Test match and three ODIs, but the tour was rescheduled to a later date with both sides looking to maximize their T20 cricket exposure in the lead-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in October, ACB said in a statement.
ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said: “Afghanistan have ample experience of playing Ireland for over one decade, and it’s turning out to be a nice rivalry between the two teams. The confirmation of the dates for the series is a positive sight, as part of our build-up to the T20 World Cup in Australia.
“At the same time, we are looking forward to rescheduling our multi-format (a test and three ODIs) tour of Ireland in the near future,” he said.
Afghanistan last played Ireland in a T20I series in March 2021 in Greater Noida, India with Afghanistan winning the three-match series 2-1.
Both teams have met 19 times before in men’s T20Is, with Afghanistan dominating the head-to-head record by winning 14 of these games. Ireland won 4, while one game ended as no result.
Sport
India upbeat over Champions Trophy win against New Zealand
The final on Sunday in Dubai will decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s Shubman Gill on Saturday said the team will look to win the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand to get over their 2023 ODI World Cup title defeat.
The final on Sunday in Dubai will decide the winner of the eight-nation tournament played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
“I am quite excited,” vice-captain Gill told reporters. “My second ICC event for team India and second final. The last time which we couldn’t do, we will try to do it this time.”
India went down to Australia in the 50-over World Cup final in November 2023 on home soil in Ahmedabad in a heartbreaking defeat for the team, which had come into the title clash unbeaten, AFP reported.
However, Rohit Sharma’s team eased the heartache of fans a few months later when they lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup title — India’s first victory in a major global event since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Gill, who was not part of the T20 triumph, said the ICC title in Barbados allows the team to go into Sunday’s final without any baggage.
“It’s also about once you get one title that kind of breaks the jinx and then it gives you the momentum and also you are not desperate about getting the title,” said Gill.
“Winning the title in 2024 doesn’t mean that we are less hungry, but it kind of gives us more balance that we have won an ICC title and we will try to do our best to win this one.”
India come into the title clash unbeaten in four matches after they went past Australia in the semi-final to eye a third Champions Trophy crown, AFP reported.
India have played all their matches in Dubai after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to political tensions.
Gill said the importance of a final does come into the equation when they walk out but a champion team knows how to handle pressure.
“The big-match pressure is always there,” said Gill.
“This is the reason why we talk about big teams of previous years, including West Indies and Australia. Those teams played their best cricket in knock-outs. Easier said than done, but good teams play their best cricket under pressure.”
Virat Kohli has been in top form as he hit an unbeaten 100 against arch-rivals Pakistan in a group game and hit 84 in another successful chase in the semi-final.
Rohit has been slammed for not converting his starts into bigger scores, but his quick cameos have nonetheless allowed the team to build totals.
Gill, who opens with Rohit, said India’s batting depth has allowed the top-order to bat freely.
“I think this is the best batting line-up that I have been part of,” said Gill. “Rohit, Virat, I think all-time one-day greats. Rohit one of the best openers in white-ball and Virat one of the best ODI batsman ever,” he said.
Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch the final live and exclusively in the country on Ariana Television. The final gets underway at 1:30pm Kabul time.
Sport
Afghanistan beat Greenland 5-4 in Brazil futsal tournament

Afghanistan’s national futsal team defeated Greenland 5-4 in their first match of the Intercontinental Futsal Cup in Brazil on Friday.
Afghanistan’s goals were scored by Omid Qanbari, Khudadad Ebrahimi, Farzad Mahmoodi and Bahman Girgich.
Four teams including Brazil, Afghanistan, Iran and Greenland are participating in the tournament.
Sport
Afghanistan’s futsal team to face Greenland in Brazil tournament

The Afghanistan National Futsal Team will play its first match in the Four-Nation Brazil Tournament against Greenland, the National Football Federation (NFF) said on Thursday in a post on Facebook.
NFF announced that the match will take place at 1:30 AM Kabul time on Friday.
The national futsal players arrived in Brazil on Wednesday after resolving visa-related challenges.
The tournament features teams from Brazil, Afghanistan, Iran, and Greenland.
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