Cricket

Afghanistan's young cricket team, with an average age of just 25, is poised to make a splash at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Their breakthrough performance at the 50-over showpiece in October, where they finished sixth ahead of defending champions England, has ignited hopes for a strong showing in the United States and West Indies."In the past, our victories against bigger teams were labeled as 'upsets'," said 22-year-old opening batsman Sediqullah Atal. "But that word is no longer in the dictionary. We are now ranked among the favorites."Despite decades of war and poverty, Afghanistan's passion for cricket has never waned. "When you have the support of 40 million people motivating you, it's an incredible feeling," said 20-year-old all-rounder Nangeyalia Kharote.The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has the full backing of the Taliban government, which has effectively banned women from sports. However, the ICC has allowed Afghanistan to compete in the World Cup despite their lack of a women's side.Despite the controversy, Afghanistan's cricket has flourished in recent years, with new academies, sponsorship deals, and tournament financing. Their first match at the 2024 World Cup is on June 4 against Uganda in Guyana."Our team has arrived and is playing at a very high level in a short space of time," said cricket enthusiast Afzal Khan. "They are our heroes, and they will always have a place in my heart."Captain Rashid Khan pledged: "We will shine well in this World Cup too, and match the expectations of our compatriots."Back home in Kabul, young cricketer Naseem Khan expressed high hopes for the team: "This will be the best World Cup for Afghanistan."

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has secured the services of legendary West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo as their bowling consultant for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Bravo, a two-time T20 World Cup champion with the West Indies, will join the Afghan team in St Kitts and Nevis for a ten-day preparatory camp ahead of the tournament.Bravo, who retired from international cricket after the 2021 T20 World Cup, brings a wealth of experience to the Afghan bowling attack. He is the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket history, with 625 scalps in 573 games. In addition to his playing experience, Bravo is also the bowling coach of the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).Afghanistan's decision to appoint Bravo as their bowling consultant is a testament to their ambition to make a significant impact at the 2024 T20 World Cup. The team has already arrived in the Caribbean and will begin their preparations under Bravo's guidance.Afghanistan will play two warm-up matches before the start of the World Cup, against Oman on May 29 and Scotland on May 31. They will then face Uganda in their opening match of the tournament on June 5 in Providence.Another former West Indian player, Kieron Pollard, will also be involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup as the assistant coach of England. Pollard, who retired from international cricket in 2022, will bring his experience and leadership qualities to the English camp.The 2024 T20 World Cup will be a highly competitive tournament, with some of the best teams in the world vying for the title. Afghanistan will be hoping to make a strong impression under the guidance of Bravo and Pollard, and they will be determined to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format of the game.

Rashid Khan will lead an experienced Afghanistan squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the ACB announced on Tuesday. The 15-man squad boasts eight players currently involved in the IPL, showcasing their international experience and talent.Despite having only four designated batters in Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Ishaq, the squad's strength lies in its six allrounders. Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, and Nangeyalia Kharote provide a versatile blend of batting, bowling, and fielding abilities.Afghanistan's spin attack is formidable, with Rashid Khan, Nabi, and Kharote forming the core. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Noor Ahmad add depth to the spin department, giving the team multiple options to control the opposition's scoring rate.Naveen-ul-Haq is the lone right-arm fast bowler in the squad, while left-arm pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Fareed Ahmad complete the bowling attack. Their pace and variation will be crucial in containing the opposition's batters.Noor Ahmad, Karim Janat, and Mohammad Ishaq, who have all impressed in recent U-19 World Cups, will make their T20 World Cup debuts. Their inclusion signals Afghanistan's commitment to developing young talent and building a strong future for the team.Hashmatullah Shahidi, who captained Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup, was not selected for the T20 World Cup squad. Left-hand opener Hazratullah Zazai was also omitted from the main squad but will travel as one of three reserves alongside Sediqullah Atal and Mohammad Saleem.Afghanistan will face a tough challenge in Group C of the 20-team tournament. They will encounter Test teams New Zealand and co-hosts West Indies, as well as Uganda and Papua New Guinea. The team's experience and versatility will be tested as they aim to advance to the knockout stages.

Delhi Capitals Bolster Squad with Gulbadin Naib as Mitchell Marsh ReplacementDelhi Capitals have secured the services of Afghanistan allrounder Gulbadin Naib as a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Naib, who was acquired for his reserve price of INR 50 lakh, will make his IPL debut with the Delhi-based franchise.Marsh's departure from the IPL was necessitated by a hamstring injury sustained during the tournament. The Australian allrounder played four matches for DC, scoring 61 runs and claiming one wicket. His absence has left a void in the team's all-rounder department.Naib, a seasoned campaigner in international cricket, brings a wealth of experience to the Delhi Capitals. The 31-year-old has represented Afghanistan in 100 T20Is, scoring over 1,500 runs and taking 80 wickets. He is known for his aggressive batting and effective medium-pace bowling.DC head coach Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in Naib's abilities, stating that he is a "quality allrounder" who can contribute with both bat and ball. Ponting also revealed that Marsh's absence will not impact his availability for the T20 World Cup, which begins in June.The Delhi Capitals are currently sixth in the IPL standings with four wins from nine matches. They have a challenging schedule ahead, facing Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Lucknow Super Giants in their remaining fixtures.Naib's addition to the squad is expected to provide DC with much-needed depth and versatility. His experience and all-round skills could prove invaluable as the team aims to secure a playoff berth.

Afghanistan's star all-rounder Rashid Khan has expressed his disappointment over Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to indefinitely postpone their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which was scheduled for August at a neutral venue. CA cited concerns over the "marked deterioration in human rights for women and girls" in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as the reason for their withdrawal.Rashid, who is currently playing for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), said he was "really hurt" by CA's decision. "It does hurt you. You do want to play against the best teams and that's where your cricket is going to improve more and more. You only get the opportunity playing against them [Australia] in the World Cups, but not in bilateral series," Rashid told ESPNcricinfo.Rashid believes that the series would have been a valuable learning experience for Afghanistan, as playing against top-ranked teams like Australia is crucial for the growth of the sport in the country. "Recently, we played three T20s against India, and it helped us a lot. We nearly chased 200 [212] against India. Imagine if you wouldn't have played that, where would the confidence come from? Playing against big teams is huge for us," he added.Rashid also questioned CA's decision to exclude him from the BBL, while allowing other Afghan players to participate. "You don't want to play with my colleagues and you want to play with me. So what's the difference? It means I'm putting my colleagues down as well. My country down as well," he said.This is the third time CA has chosen not to honor a bilateral engagement with Afghanistan. In 2021, the first Test match between Australia and Afghanistan was postponed, and last year, an ODI series was called off.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's star leg-spinner, has made a triumphant return to the national squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland. This marks a significant milestone in his recovery from a back injury that has sidelined him since the 2023 World Cup.Khan's absence has been a major blow to Afghanistan, who have missed his exceptional wicket-taking abilities. He was their leading wicket-taker at the ODI World Cup, claiming 11 scalps. His return will provide a much-needed boost to the team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in June.In addition to Khan, Afghanistan have also welcomed back Mujeeb Ur Rahman, another key spinner who has been recovering from a finger injury. The return of these two experienced campaigners will significantly strengthen Afghanistan's spin attack.The squad also includes several uncapped players, including allrounder Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who impressed on his ODI debut, is also in contention for a T20I debut.Afghanistan will host Ireland for three T20Is in Sharjah on March 15, 17, and 18. The series will be a crucial test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Afghanistan will be eager to continue their winning ways after securing a 2-0 victory in the preceding ODIs.

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ireland's Harry Tector engaged in a thrilling batting duel in Sharjah, with Gurbaz's century ultimately leading Afghanistan to a 35-run victory in the first ODI of the three-match series.Gurbaz, known for his aggressive batting, smashed 121 runs off 117 deliveries, including eight fours and six sixes. His innings formed the backbone of Afghanistan's impressive total of 310 for 5. Ibrahim Zadran provided solid support with a 60-run contribution, while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi chipped in with a half-century.Ireland's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets in the powerplay, including captain Paul Stirling. However, Tector and Tucker steadied the innings with a 173-run partnership. Tector, in particular, played a magnificent knock, scoring 138 runs off 147 balls.Afghanistan's left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi proved to be the game-changer, dismissing Tucker and Andy Balbirnie in quick succession. This triggered a collapse as Ireland lost four wickets for just 42 runs. Tector fought valiantly but was eventually dismissed in the final over, leaving Ireland 35 runs short of their target.Farooqi finished with impressive figures of 4 for 51, while George Dockrell and Theo van Woerkom picked up three wickets each for Ireland.

Noor Ali Zadran, a veteran Afghanistan batter, has bid farewell to international cricket after a distinguished career spanning two Tests, 51 ODIs, and 23 T20Is. His journey began in 2009, and his final appearance was in the one-off Test against Ireland earlier this month.Zadran's ODI career saw him amass 1216 runs at an average of 24.81, while in T20Is, he accumulated 597 runs at an average of 27.13. His Test debut came against Sri Lanka in Colombo in February 2023, followed by the Ireland Test in Abu Dhabi, where he scored a total of 117 runs across four innings.After a brief hiatus, Zadran was recalled to the Afghanistan side for the T20Is at the Asian Games in October 2023. He played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, scoring 51 and 39 respectively. The final against India ended in a no-result due to rain, with India claiming the gold medal as the higher-ranked team.Zadran's international debut came in Afghanistan's first official ODI against Scotland in April 2009, where he opened the batting and scored a quickfire 45 off 28 balls. His T20I debut followed in February 2010, in Afghanistan's second game in the format.One of Zadran's career highlights was his half-century against India at the T20 World Cup in 2010, Afghanistan's maiden World Cup appearance. He also played a crucial role in Afghanistan's victory over Zimbabwe in the first round of the T20 World Cup in 2016.Zadran's retirement marks the end of an era for Afghanistan cricket. He has been a consistent performer for his country, contributing significantly to their rise in international cricket. His experience and leadership will be missed by the team.

Afghanistan's cricket team has announced its squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland in Sharjah, with two uncapped players making their senior debuts. Mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Nangeyalia Kharote have been included in the squad, while senior spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman continue to recover from injuries.Ghazanfar, a talented young cricketer, impressed during the Under-19 World Cup and will provide cover for Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the ODI series. Kharote, also a former Under-19 World Cup player, brings versatility to the team with his all-round abilities.Fast bowler Bilal Sami, who was among the reserves for Afghanistan's recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, has been promoted to the main squad. Sami, who has played 10 List A games, has taken 23 wickets at an average of 21.60 and an economy rate of 6.21.Wristspinner Qais Ahmad, who struggled for control in Sri Lanka, has been demoted to the reserves. Zia Ur Rahman and Shahidullah Kamal are the other reserve players in the side.Afghanistan's squad for the ODI series against Ireland is as follows:* Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt)* Rahmat Shah (vice-capt)* Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)* Ikram Alikhil (wk)* Ibrahim Zadran* Riaz Hassan* Azmatullah Omarzai* Mohammad Nabi* Gulbadin Naib* Nangeyalia Kharote* Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar* Noor Ahmad* Bilal Sami* Fazal Haq Farooqi* Naveed Zadran* Farid Ahmad MalikReserves:* Zia Ur Rahman* Shahidullah Kamal* Qais Ahmad