Sport

Norouzi says no reason why Afghanistan can’t win Futsal World Cup

The Lions of Khorasan will have one factor in their favor. Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan and are expected to enjoy vociferous support at the tournament

Published

3 months ago

August 25, 2024

Ariana News

With just under three weeks to go before FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ kicks off, Afghanistan’s team is gearing up to take on Angola in their first match of the tournament on September 15.

Speaking to FIFA this week, Afghanistan player Mahdi Norouzi said: “Playing in the Futsal World Cup is very important to the people of Afghanistan. They have longed to see their team in the World Cup for many years and fortunately we were able to advance to the World Cup with the help of the head coach, the players and prayers of our people.”

This comes after Afghanistan went into the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers for the first time in April - and as rank outsiders.

Majid Mortezaei’s side nevertheless recorded 5-3 victories over Iraq and Kyrgyz Republic to conquer the four-team play-offs for a place at the World Cup.

“We were so happy that we were able to make the people of Afghanistan proud and give them a smile,” Norouzi said.

“The people of Afghanistan deserved this happiness.”

He went on to say that Afghanistan’s head coach has been watching not only Helber Garcia, Angola’s star, but all their players.

“Without doubt we’ll have a special plan to play against Angola and beat them,” he said.

Argentina, who finished first and second respectively at the last two FIFA Futsal World Cups, will provide hurdle number two, but Afghanistan are undaunted by their opponents’ credentials.

“It’s true that Argentina have a very good team and are one of the contenders to win this World Cup,” Norouzi remarked.

“But no team has as much motivation as we do. We have no fear of Argentina and we will enter battle to win.”

He said the team’s first goal was to advance from the group stage and that ultimately they would like to win the title.

“Every team that qualified for this Futsal World Cup is good and it’s difficult to predict who will lift the trophy, but I really like Afghanistan’s chances.

“Every team has big stars. I think many players from Brazil, Portugal, Spain and even Afghanistan are among the world’s best players,” he said.

The Lions of Khorasan will have one factor in their favor. Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan and are expected to enjoy vociferous support at the tournament.

“We are neighbors,” explained Norouzi. “Many of our compatriots live in Uzbekistan. We expect to have many fans cheering us on.”

For fans unable to travel to the sporting extravaganza, Ariana Television will however broadcast matches live across the country.

Afghanistan’s first match, on day 2 of the tournament, will take place on Sunday, September 15 at 17:00.

This will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.

This is the first FIFA tournament to be held in Central Asia, and as such is expected to draw crowds of supporters.

Three Host Cities, the capital, Tashkent, Andijan in the Fergana Valley and in ancient Silk Road trading center of Bukhara, will stage games as Uzbekistan becomes the fourth AFC member to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup after Hong Kong (1992), Chinese Taipei (2004) and Thailand (2012).

The 24-team line-up for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 is as follows: Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, France, Guatemala, IR Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, Tajikistan, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

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Sport

Ariana News to broadcast IPL auction live and exclusively in Afghanistan

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Ariana News

The highly anticipated TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday November 24 and Monday November 25 - an event that will be broadcast to Afghanistan’s cricket fans live and exclusively by Ariana Television and Radio Network (ATN).

The two-day event will be broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana News.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this year. It will be the second time that the IPL mega auction is held outside India after last year's event in Dubai.

This year's mega auction will have 1,574 players registered, of which 574 names will go under the hammer.

Of those 574, a total of 366 players will be Indian and 208 will be foreign cricketers.

A number of big names will be in fray, with as many as 81 players choosing to register themselves under the highest base price bracket of Rs 2 crore ($237,000).

Afghan players

Eighteen Afghan players have been shortlisted for the IPL mega auction.

Two hundred and four (204) slots will be up for grabs with 70 available slots for overseas players.

Full list of Afghan players shortlisted for the auction:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Noor Ahmad
Waqar Salamkheil
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
Azmatullah Omarzai
Naveen-ul-haq
Zahir Khan Pakten
Sediqullah Atal
Mohammad Nabi
Gulbadin Naib
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Najibullah Zadran
Ibrahim Zadran
Qais Ahmad
Karim Janat
Faridoon Dawoodzai
Nangyal Kharote

For cricket fans across the country, the IPL mega auction broadcast will be on Sunday and Monday from 1.30pm Kabul time on Ariana News. For more information and updated stories be sure to watch this space and follow us on social media.

Sport

Pakistan trumps Afghanistan by only 13 runs in U19 Tri-Series One Day match

Chasing 245 to win, Afghanistan lost their opening batter Mahboob Khan in the first over but recovered as Uzairullah Niazai and Faisal Shinozada secured a 104-run partnership for the second wicket

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s U-19 cricket team went down to Pakistan by only 13 runs on Wednesday in their third tri-nation series One Day match at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

This was Pakistan’s first win over Afghanistan in the ongoing tournament after the Afghans defeated their opponents by 100 runs at the same venue on Friday.

Chasing 245 to win, Afghanistan lost their opening batter Mahboob Khan in the first over but recovered as Uzairullah Niazai and Faisal Shinozada secured a 104-run partnership for the second wicket.

After Faisal’s departure, Uzairullah soon followed with Afghanistan at 142 for three in 26.5 overs.

Afghanistan were bundled out for 231 in 46.4 overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan’s opening pair Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan provided a solid 129-run stand to Pakistan.

Left-handed Usman, who scored a century against Afghanistan in the previous match, scored an 88-ball 77, which included eight fours.

Shahzaib meanwhile top-scored for the side with 78 off 101 balls, hitting seven boundaries.

For Afghanistan, Abdul Aziz Khan and Khatir Khan Stanikzai bagged three wickets apiece, while Naseer Khan Maroofkhil snapped two wickets.

Pakistan will take on the hosts UAE U19 in their last group match on Friday, 22 November.

In a post on X, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said late Wednesday: “Not the result we would have wanted but Afghanistan Future Stars will look to bounce back in the next match.”

Afghanistan will take on UAE U19 on Sunday, November 24.

Sport

Afghanistan beat UAE by 169 runs in U19 tri-series

Published

3 days ago

November 18, 2024

Ariana News

Afghanistan under-19 cricket team defeated the United Arab Emirates under-19 team by 169 runs in their second match of the tri-nation series in Dubai on Monday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Afghans posted 359-5 as they played all the mandated 50 overs in the ICC Academy in Dubai.

Faisal Khan scored 156 runs while captain Mehboob Khan made 141.

In reply, UAE made 190 before they were all out in the 45.4 overs.

It is Afghanistan U19's second consecutive win in the two matches they have played so far in the tri-series.

Afghanistan U19 defeated Pakistan by 100 runs in their first match.

Afghanistan U19 will meet Pakistan U19 again on Wednesday.