Cricket

Afghanistan Eyes Historic Series Win in Second ODI Against South AfricaIn a historic first-ever bilateral series between Afghanistan and South Africa, the second ODI promises to be a thrilling encounter. After a resounding victory in the first match, Afghanistan is poised to secure a historic series win.Afghanistan's bowling attack, led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, proved devastating in the first ODI, reducing South Africa to a precarious 36/7. The Proteas' inexperienced side struggled to recover, eventually falling for 114.Afghanistan will be eager to replicate that performance and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. South Africa, on the other hand, will be desperate to bounce back and salvage some pride.The Proteas have a relatively young and inexperienced team, with several key players missing due to injuries. However, they will be hoping that their talented youngsters can step up and deliver.The match will be a crucial test for both teams. Afghanistan will be aiming to prove that their recent success is no fluke, while South Africa will be looking to show that they are still a force to be reckoned with.The second ODI is scheduled to take place at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on January 25, 2023. The match will start at 10:00 AM local time (08:00 AM GMT).

Mujeeb Ur Rahman's T20 World Cup campaign has come to an abrupt end due to a recurring finger injury. The Afghan spinner, who missed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season with the same ailment, played in Afghanistan's opening match against Uganda but has been sidelined since.The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Friday that Hazratullah Zazai, an opening batter, will replace Mujeeb in Afghanistan's squad. The replacement was approved by the event technical committee following Afghanistan's victory over Papua New Guinea.Afghanistan had initially named Noor Ahmad as Mujeeb's replacement in the squad. Ahmad played in Afghanistan's last two fixtures, taking one wicket in their win over New Zealand and 1 for 14 in their victory over PNG."He's going to be a big part for us going forward, as these wickets continue to wear," said Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott about Noor. "It's always nice to have the option of him to come into the side, or the left-arm spin of Nangeyalia Kharote, who can come into the side - he did really well in the last [series] against Ireland - and obviously [Mohammad] Nabi, who can bowl spin as well."Zazai, a left-handed opening batter, is not a direct replacement for Mujeeb but will strengthen Afghanistan's batting lineup. He has not played a T20I since February but has participated in the last two T20 World Cups and holds the second-highest individual score in a men's T20I.Afghanistan secured their place in the Super Eight stage by defeating PNG and will face West Indies in their final group game on Monday in St Lucia.

IPL 2024: Mujeeb Ur Rahman Out, Allah Ghazanfar In for Kolkata Knight Riders; Keshav Maharaj Joins Rajasthan RoyalsThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has witnessed a flurry of roster changes as teams bolster their squads for the upcoming season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have made significant additions to their bowling departments, with the former replacing injured spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman with his Afghan compatriot Allah Ghazanfar, while the latter has signed South African veteran Keshav Maharaj.KKR's Ghazanfar ReplacementMujeeb Ur Rahman, KKR's mystery spinner, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In his place, the franchise has acquired the services of 16-year-old Allah Ghazanfar, a rising star in Afghan cricket. Ghazanfar made his international debut earlier this month in the ODI series against Ireland, although he failed to pick up any wickets in the two matches he played.However, Ghazanfar's impressive performance at the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup has caught the attention of KKR. He was Afghanistan's second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming eight wickets at an average of 16.75. Ghazanfar has also played six List A matches and three T20s, showcasing his versatility as a bowler. He joins KKR for his base price of INR 20 lakhs.RR's Maharaj AcquisitionRajasthan Royals have signed South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj as a replacement for fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who is currently recovering from surgery. Maharaj, a seasoned campaigner, has played 50 Tests, 44 ODIs, and 27 T20Is for South Africa, amassing a total of 237 wickets in international cricket.Maharaj has also gained valuable experience in T20 leagues around the world, including stints with Durban's Super Giants in the SA20 and Fortune Barishal in the BPL. In this year's SA20, Maharaj claimed 15 wickets from 13 matches, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in the shortest format of the game.