Cricket

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a preliminary squad of 20 players for the upcoming one-off Test match against New Zealand, scheduled to take place from September 9-13 in Greater Noida, India. The selected players will depart for India on August 28 for a week-long preparation camp.The final squad will be announced at the end of the camp, with the selection committee considering players' performance and fitness. Afghanistan suffered a six-wicket defeat in their most recent Test match against Ireland in Abu Dhabi earlier this year."20 players have been selected for the training camp and a 15-member squad will be selected to play the only Test match against New Zealand after observing their performance and fitness," said Afghanistan chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhel.ACB chairman Mirwais Ashraf expressed his delight at the inclusion of young players who have performed well in domestic cricket. He emphasized the significance of this event, marking the first time the two nations will engage in a bilateral cricket series."It is worth mentioning that before the 9th edition of Shpageeza Cricket League, these players attended a full package preparation camp in Nangarhar province too that carries similar conditions to India," he added.The Afghanistan preliminary squad includes:* Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain)* Ibrahim Zadran* Riaz Hassan* Abdul Malik* Rahmat Shah* Baheer Shah Mahboob* Ikram Alikhel (wk)* Shahidullah Kamal* Gulbadin Naib* Afsar Zazai (wk)* Azmatullah Omarzai* Ziaurrahman Akbar* Shamsurrahman* Qais Ahmad* Zahir Khan* Nijat Masoud* Farid Ahmad Malik* Naveed Zadran* Khalil Ahmad* Yama Arab

Ihsanullah Janat, a prominent Afghanistan top-order batter, has been suspended from all cricket-related activities for five years due to corruption allegations. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the ban on Wednesday, effective immediately.The ACB's investigation revealed that Janat violated Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code during the second edition of the Kabul Premier League earlier this year. The specific breaches involved improper influence and attempts to manipulate the outcome of matches.Janat has acknowledged his guilt and confessed to his involvement in corrupt activities. The ACB's anti-corruption unit is currently investigating three other players for potential involvement in similar offenses.Janat, 26, has represented Afghanistan in 20 international matches across all three formats. He made his debut in an ODI against Zimbabwe in 2017 and has since played 15 ODIs, scoring 307 runs. He has also featured in three Tests, amassing 110 runs, and one T20I, where he scored a quickfire 20.Janat's suspension is a significant blow to Afghanistan's cricket team, which has been plagued by corruption scandals in recent years. The ACB has vowed to take strict action against any players or officials involved in such activities.The ban on Janat serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity in cricket. The ACB and the ICC are committed to eradicating corruption from the sport and ensuring a fair and competitive environment for all players.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that the Afghanistan men's cricket team will face New Zealand in a one-off Test match from September 9-13 at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground in India. This historic encounter will mark the first time Afghanistan and New Zealand have met in the longest format of the game.Afghanistan has made significant strides in Test cricket since gaining full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2017. They have won three Test matches to date, against Ireland (2019), Bangladesh (2019), and Zimbabwe (2021).ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf expressed his delight at hosting New Zealand for the first time in a Test match. He said, "We are delighted to host a quality New Zealand Test team for the first time in our cricketing history. This is a testament to the hard work we have put in through numerous discussions and meetings with different boards on the sidelines of the various ICC Board Meetings."Ashraf also expressed hope for future bilateral white-ball matches against New Zealand. "The Black Caps are an outstanding all-format team in world cricket, and we hope to reach an agreement with New Zealand Cricket for white-ball bilateral matches in the future," he said.The match will also mark Afghanistan's return to international cricket at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has been designated as one of the venues for Afghanistan's home games following an agreement with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).New Zealand will arrive in Greater Noida on September 5 for a three-day conditioning camp ahead of the Test match. They will then face India in a three-Test series starting on October 16 in Bengaluru.Meanwhile, Afghanistan will head to New Delhi in late August for a one-week training and preparation camp. In their two Tests played this year, Afghanistan lost to Sri Lanka and Ireland, with their last win in the longer format coming in 2021 over Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received a major boost in its bid to host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, with Afghanistan pledging its participation in the tournament. This assurance was given by Mirwais Ashraf, the president of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), and Naseeb Khan, the CEO, during the ICC Annual Board Meeting in Colombo.The PCB has been working tirelessly to secure the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy, which will be the first major ICC event to be held in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup. However, there were concerns that some countries might follow India's lead if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send its team to Pakistan.Khalid Mehmood, a former PCB chairman, had recently stated that if India didn't send its team to Pakistan, one could expect teams like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to follow suit and insist on shifting the tournament to an alternative location.However, the ACB officials' assurances to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi have allayed those fears. Afghanistan's participation in the Champions Trophy is a significant development, as it shows that the country is willing to support Pakistan's efforts to host the tournament.The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in Pakistan during February and March 2025. It will be the first time that the tournament has been held in Pakistan since 2008.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to postpone the upcoming white-ball series scheduled for late July in Greater Noida, India. The BCB has cited concerns over the weather conditions during that time of year, which is typically the monsoon season in the subcontinent.The ACB had initially proposed a schedule of three ODIs and three T20Is between July 25 and August 6. However, the BCB believes that the weather in Greater Noida during that period would not be suitable for international cricket.The BCB had previously postponed the series due to concerns over player workload management. Bangladesh's next assignment is a two-Test series in Pakistan from mid-August, followed by a tour of India in September and October. The team will also play two Tests against South Africa at home and a full tour of the West Indies later in the year.The BCB has requested that the series against Afghanistan be rescheduled to a time when both boards can find a suitable window. The ACB has yet to respond to the request.The postponement of the Afghanistan series is part of the BCB's efforts to manage the workload of its players. The team has a busy schedule in the coming months, including the World Test Championship cycle, which concludes in December 2024.