Sport
AFG vs India: Kohli and Sharma decision delays BCCI announcement of T20I squad
Cricket fans are waiting in anticipation for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to announce the squad for the T20I series against Afghanistan later this week.
The BCCI selection committee is expected to meet in Mumbai on Sunday but as yet no announcement has been made. It is expected however, that the T20I future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will remain the main agenda of the meeting.
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) meanwhile announced its 19-member squad for the upcoming series on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma, who has not played a T20I since the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022, is expected to lead the Indian team in the final T20I series before the World Cup 2024.
Meanwhile, star batter Virat Kohli, whose last T20I appearance also came in the semi-final loss, is also expected to make a return.
Kohli's recent form has been commendable, with an impressive performance in the 2023 World Cup where he scored 750 runs, including three centuries.
However, Indian media reports that the selectors face a challenging decision as they consider the impact of these veteran players' return on the squad dynamics.
Both Rohit and Virat have expressed their willingness to participate in T20Is, and there is speculation that they may return for the T20Is against Afghanistan. But the final call on their participation in the T20 World Cup will likely depend on their performances in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
There will be three T20I cricket matches between India and Afghanistan.
The first will be played on Thursday, January 11, in Mohali. The second match will be played on January 14 in Indore while the third is on January 17 in Bengaluru.
All matches will start at 6pm Kabul time.
Once again, Ariana Television Network has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the series. Matches will be aired live so be sure to watch this space for updates, schedules and team news.
Sport
Afghanistan clinches ODI series victory against Zimbabwe
Afghanistan's national cricket team triumphed over Zimbabwe by 8 wickets in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to claim the series victory.
In a dominant bowling display, Afghanistan dismissed Zimbabwe for just 127 runs in 30.1 overs. The Afghan batsmen then chased down the target comfortably in 26.5 overs, losing only 2 wickets along the way.
The standout performer of the match was Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, who took a remarkable 5 wickets, while Rashid Khan supported with 3 wickets. Azmatullah Omarzai and Farid Ahmad each claimed 1 wicket.
The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain, but Afghanistan bounced back strongly in the second match, securing a commanding 232-run victory.
This series win follows Afghanistan's earlier success in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, further cementing their dominance in international cricket.
Sport
Bangla Tigers lift Lanka T10 Super League title
Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in Thursday’s Lanka T10 Super League final at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy.
The Tigers produced a fine all-round performance to beat the Titans, who had won all their matches in the lead up to the final.
Player of the match and player of the series was Titan’s skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Hambantota Bangla Tigers, put into bat first, posted 133 for seven from their allotted 10 overs through some useful contributions from their top order batsmen.
The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera added 35 runs from 2.4 overs before they suffered a middle order collapse and reached 59 for three at the halfway stage of the innings.
However, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a fourth-wicket partnership of 44 runs in three overs.
Shanaka made 21 with two sixes and two boundaries while Daniel struck 26 with one six and three boundaries before Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan added the finishing touches.
Chasing 133 runs for victory, Jaffna Titans lost wickets at regular intervals and they eventually finished at 107 for six despite a fighting unbeaten half century from middle order batsman Tom Abell.
Richard Gleeson wrecked the Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ innings with excellent figures of three wickets for 21 while Shanaka captured two wickets for four runs.
Sport
Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe by 232 runs in second ODI
Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by 232 runs in the second ODI on Thursday to secure a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sent to bat first by Zimbabwe who won the toss, Afghanistan posted 286-6 in Harare.
Sediqullah Atal scored 104, his first hundred in an international match. Abdul Malik followed with 84.
In reply, Zimbabwe scored 54 runs before being bowled out in the 17.5 overs.
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Naweed Zadran took three wickets each. Fazlullah Farooqi picked up two wickets and Azmatullah Omarzai one.
This was the second match of the ODI series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. The first was abandoned due to rain.
The third and final game of the series will be played on Saturday.
-
Sport5 days ago
Zimbabwe’s opening ODI against Afghanistan abandoned
-
World4 days ago
North Korean troops suffer 100 deaths, struggling in drone warfare, South Korea says
-
Latest News2 days ago
Afghan men must stand with women to support viable future of country: US envoy
-
Latest News4 days ago
Two horror accidents on Kabul-Kandahar highway leave 52 dead
-
Sport3 days ago
Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe by 232 runs in second ODI
-
Regional5 days ago
Iran’s president to make rare visit to Egypt for D-8 summit
-
International Sports4 days ago
Lanka T10: Kandy Bolts in at 4th spot in playoffs after thrilling day
-
World5 days ago
NATO takes over coordination of military aid to Kyiv from US, source says