Sport
Afghanistan pulls off stunning upset against Australia in T20 World Cup match
The team is now firmly back in contention to reach the semi-finals. They will face Bangladesh in their last Super 8s game on Tuesday.
Afghanistan on Sunday sealed its first-ever win against Australia in an exceptional all-round display in their Super 8 T20 World Cup match.
Collecting one of the team’s best ever cricketing victories, Afghanistan ended Australia’s unbeaten World Cup 2024.
Australia's skipper Mitch Marsh won the toss and opted to field first but Afghanistan took little time to make Marsh question whether he’d made the right decision.
The Afghans had a plan and it was executed out of the gate, staying patient and precise.
Needing a victory to avoid elimination, Afghanistan posted 148-6 on the back of a superb opening stand of 118 between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.
They quickly reduced Australia to 32-3 in the chase but Glenn Maxwell’s 35-ball half-century recovered the situation for the 2021 champions.
But just when Australia seemed to have the advantage, Gulbadin Naib removed Marcus Stoinis and Tim David before claiming the prize scalp of Maxwell.
From there Australia collapsed from 106-6 to 113-9 and Afghanistan sealed the win - their first over Australia in any form of cricket - in the final over.
"We've been waiting for a long time, it's a great moment for me, my nation, my people," said player of the match Gulbadin.
The team is now firmly back in contention to reach the semi-finals. They will face Bangladesh in their last Super 8s game on Tuesday.
Team captain Rashid Khan said: “It's a massive win for us as a team and as a nation."
"In a World Cup, to beat champions (Australia are 50-over world champions) is a great feeling and it is something we have missed.
“It's just the beginning for us and we have every chance of making the semis," Rashid said.
Australia takes on India in St Lucia on Monday and will likely need to win to progress to the last four.
Related stories:
India beat Afghanistan by 47 runs in Super 8 match of T20 World Cup
Afghanistan shock New Zealand by 84 runs for first win in history
Sport
Ariana News to broadcast IPL auction live and exclusively in Afghanistan
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
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
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.
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