‘Absolute jet’ Varma heading for India call-up after IPL take-off

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2023

(Last Updated On: )

Rising talent Tilak Varma has earned predictions that he is destined to play for his country after lighting up the Indian Premier League with his fearless batting.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians bought Varma for $200,000 in last year’s auction and the 20-year-old has repaid their faith with some stellar performances since, AFP reported.

An attacking left-handed batsman, Varma smashed a 17-ball 37 in a crucial stand with Australia’s Cameron Green in Mumbai’s win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The knock, laced with four sixes, came at a strike-rate of over 217 and Rohit Sharma hinted that the youngster could work his way into the India team.

“What I like about his game is his approach, he is not afraid,” Rohit, the India and Mumbai skipper, said after his team’s third successive win in the IPL.

“He is not playing the bowler, he is playing the ball, which is quite important for someone of his age coming out and playing the way he is.

“He has got a long way to go and we will see him play for some different teams.”

The Indian Express called Varma, who also bowls off-spin and only made his IPL debut last year, the “IPL’s best young Indian batting talent”.

The numbers back that up.

Varma is seventh in the list of batsmen during the current IPL with 214 runs from five matches, just a spot below Indian superstar Virat Kohli (220 from five matches).

South Africa’s Faf du Plessis tops the batting charts with 259 runs.

‘Maturity and flare’

Varma started this season with an unbeaten 84 off 46 balls in Mumbai’s opener, albeit in a losing cause, and hit winning knocks including a quickfire 41 against Delhi Capitals.

Former player and India coach Ravi Shastri told Star Sports that “I would be very surprised if he does not play T20 cricket for India in the next six months or eight months”.

“He has got the maturity, he has got the flare. He will make a world of difference to the Indian middle-order,” said Shastri.

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AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Myanmar defeat Afghanistan 2-1

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March 25, 2025

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Afghanistan’s national football team went down 2-1 to Myanmar in their first match of the third round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

The match was held on Tuesday at the stadium in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.

The only goal for Afghanistan was scored in the 14th minute by Omid Popalzay.

Afghanistan is in Group E along with Myanmar, Pakistan, and Syria.

The national team’s next match will be on June 10 against Syria. The venue is still to be decided.

Afghanistan eliminated from Asian Beach Soccer Championship

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March 25, 2025

Ariana News

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Afghanistan’s national beach soccer team was defeated 6-4 by Indonesia in their third and final match of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup 2025, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.

The match took place on Tuesday in Thailand.

In their first and second games, Afghanistan lost to the United Arab Emirates and Iran, respectively.

ACB name U19 team for Nepal tour and World Cup Asia Qualifiers

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2025

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: )

Afghanistan Cricket Board’s National Selection Committee this week finalized the Afghanistan National U19 team squad for the upcoming Youth ODI Series against Nepal, as well as the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifiers scheduled for next month in Nepal.

The selection process for the National U19 Team included rigorous training and preparation camps over the past five months.

The final phase of the team’s training concluded in Khost province, where the top 19 players engaged in skill development, fitness training, and multiple practice matches.

The squad is set to depart for Nepal later this month, where they will meet the home U19 side in three Youth ODIs from April 3 to 9 in Mulpani.

The team will then proceed to the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifiers, which will take place from April 13 to 19 in the same country.

The Future Stars are scheduled to face Oman, Hong Kong, the UAE, and the host nation Nepal in a round-robin format.

The team that finishes at the top of the table will qualify for the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Interim Chief Selector, Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil: “Qualification for the U19 World Cup is our ultimate goal. Keeping this in mind, we have prepared our squad through rigorous training and multiple preparation phases, which helped us finalize the 17-man squad.

“The boys have shown great enthusiasm and readiness to perform at the international level, and we are confident that they will do well in both events.”

Afghanistan Squad for the Nepal Youth ODI Series and the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup Asia Qualifiers: Mehboob Khan (Captain & Wicket-Keeper), Khalid Ahmadzai (WK), Uzair Khan, Faisal Khan, Barakatullah Ibrahimzai, Nazeef Amiri, Aziz Miakhil, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Hafeez Zadran, Abdul Aziz Khan, Nasratullah Nooristani, Khatir Stanikzai, Salam Khan, Izat Noor Shirzad, Kamal Khan and Rohullah Arab.