Sport
Oman cricket ground gets ICC approval for Test matches
The ICC has approved the use of the Oman Cricket Academy Ground 1 at Al Amarat, Oman, for Test match cricket.
According to Emerging Cricket, the accreditation comes ahead of a planned series between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe next month.
Afghanistan is exploring the use of Al Amarat as a surrogate home venue.
OCA Ground 1 is one of two grounds that make up the Oman Cricket Academy at Al Amarat. The two grounds have already hosted several international events, both T20I and ODI.
The accreditation to host test cricket is a further boost to cricket in the Sultanate.
Oman Cricket Secretary Mahdu Jesrani said in a press release that “this is a big news and a wonderful achievement for Oman Cricket. The New Year has started on such a promising note for the Sultanate.
“Apart from UAE, Oman is the only other Associate nation to enjoy Test, ODI and T20I status. This is a very proud moment for us all,” he said.
Afghanistan have been unable to host international cricket on home soil due to security concerns but between 2010 and 2016, Afghanistan played all “home” internationals in Sharjah, UAE.
Since ascending to full ICC membership, Afghanistan has played home games at various venues in India but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in India, the ACB has sought new home venues, including a return to the UAE, Emerging Cricket reported.
The upcoming ODI Super League series against Ireland had been scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi. However, with the Afghanistan team struggling to secure visas until Tuesday, Al Amarat was tipped as a replacement.
However, although the UAE will now host the Ireland series as planned, the ACB look set to favour Oman as a more permanent surrogate home, Emerging Cricket reported.
Afghanistan A cricket team defeated Ireland A by an innings and 194 runs in a four-day Test match that ended on Thursday.
Choosing to bat first after winning the toss in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan A team scored 612 runs in their first innings for the loss of seven wickets.
Bahir Shah (187), Riaz Hassan (94), Imran (85), Shams-ur-Rahman (84), Afsar Zazai (55) and Darwish Rasooli (53) were the major contributors for the total.
The Irish team scored 309 runs in their first innings, before being asked by Afghanistan to follow on.
Ireland A were bowled out for only 109 runs in their second innings.
Arab Gul was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan A as he took 10 wickets. Zia-ur-Rehman followed with five wickets.
Nepal’s U-19 cricket team defeated Afghanistan by 85 runs via the DLS method in the rain-hit final match of their three-game series at Mulpani Cricket Stadium. However, Afghanistan won the series 2–1, having already secured victory in the first two match.
Batting first, Nepal posted 191 all out in 44.5 overs, with Sahil Patel scoring 46. Afghanistan struggled in response, collapsing to 46 for 6 in 20.1 overs before rain intervened. The match ended with Nepal’s 85-run victory under the DLS method.
Afghanistan had earlier dominated the series with a 130-run win in the first match and a dramatic one-run victory in the second. Despite the rain-affected loss, Afghanistan’s 2–1 series triumph highlighted their overall superiority, while Nepal showed potential in their final match.
Afghanistan’s national futsal team has departed for Morocco to participate in a four-nation futsal tournament.
Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has announced that Morocco will host the four-nation futsal competition.
In this tournament, the national futsal teams of Afghanistan, Portugal, Morocco, and China will compete against each other from April 9 to 13, 2025.
According to the football federation, all matches, except for the final, will be played without television broadcasts.
Afghanistan’s national futsal team will also play a friendly match against Morocco’s national futsal team on April 15.
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