Sport
South Africa to host India and Afghanistan in U19 tri-series later this month
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed Thursday that the Afghanistan national U19 team will participate in a tri-series featuring India and hosts South Africa.
The series is scheduled to be held from December 29, 2023 to January 10, 2024 in Johannesburg before the start of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2024.
All the matches will be held at the Old Edwardians Cricket Club in Johannesburg, where Afghanistan Future Stars will meet India in the opening match of the series, followed by their 2nd game against South Africa on December 31st.
The series will see all the participating teams competing in a double round-robin format followed by the final between the top two teams on January 10.
ACB’s CEO Naseeb Khan said in a statement that “the series presents a good opportunity for our Future Stars and the other two participating teams to effectively gear up for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024.”
After the completion of the series, Afghanistan U19s, powered by the SuperCola Beverages Manufacturing Company, and two other teams will head for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 where they will start their campaign by playing two warm up games before entering the main draw of the event starting on January 19.
Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Head of High-Performance Grant van Velden meanwhile said: “CSA would like to extend our gratitude to the cricket boards of India and Afghanistan for their cooperation and commitment to ensuring the tri-series goes ahead.”
"These games are a crucial component of our preparation for the World Cup. They provide our young cricketers with the perfect platform to test their skills against competitive opponents in India and Afghanistan. The series will also serve as a final opportunity for our players to fine-tune their game ahead of the World Cup on home soil.”
The 2024 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup is a 50-overs cricket tournament scheduled to be held in South Africa from January to February next year.
It is scheduled to be the fifteenth edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. India are the defending champions.
Sport
Faf du Plessis smashes 75 off 32 balls in Abu Dhabi T10 League
South African player Faf du Plessis showcased his batting brilliance by blasting a blistering 75 for Morrisville Samp Army against New York Strikers in the fifth game of the 2024 Abu Dhabi T10 League on Friday.
The 40-year-old reached his fifty in just 22 balls. He remained unbeaten on 75 off 32 balls, hitting five boundaries and six sixes.
Samp Army posted 135-1 in 10 overs, 41 of it coming from Adndries Gous’s bat, and they won the match by 36 runs.
It was one of the four matches played on Friday.
In the other matches, Northern Warriors defeated Delhi Bulls by 7 wickets, with Jonson Charles hitting a fifty.
Team Abu Dhabi thrashed UP Nawabs by 8 wickets after bowling them out for just 51. Mark Adair claimed four wickets. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Zeeshan Naseer picked up two wickets each.
In the last match of the day, Deccan Gladiators beat Ajman Bolts by 20 runs. Gladiators set a target of 138 runs, with Jos Buttler making 60 runs off 22 balls.
In reply, Ajman Bolts fell short on 117 despite captain Mohammad Nabi blasting 43 off 13 balls.
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.
-
Latest News5 days ago
Tajikistan trumps Afghanistan 3-1 in football friendly
-
Latest News4 days ago
EU marks International Children’s Day, says it supports Afghan children
-
Latest News5 days ago
Afghanistan wants relations with countries not opposed to Sharia law: Haqqani
-
Sport3 days ago
Ariana News to broadcast IPL auction live and exclusively in Afghanistan
-
Latest News2 days ago
U.S. House approves bill on evacuation of Afghan allies
-
World5 days ago
Putin issues warning to US with new nuclear doctrine
-
World3 days ago
US vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Gaza ceasefire
-
Latest News5 days ago
IEA implements ‘significant reforms’ in Afghanistan’s education curriculum