Cricket

Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, elected to bat first after winning the toss against Bangladesh in the opening ODI in Sharjah. The decision marked the debut of left-handed opening batter Sediqullah Atal, who replaced the injured Ibrahim Zadran. Atal has previously featured in six T20Is.Afghanistan's lineup included four spin-bowling options: legspinners Rashid Khan and Rahmat Shah, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, and offspinners Mohammad Nabi and AM Ghazanfar. Fazalhaq Farooqi served as their sole frontline quick, with Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib providing support.Bangladesh, on the other hand, faced the absence of key players Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Tanzim Hasan due to various reasons. Nasum Ahmed and Nahid Rana were also unavailable for the match. Their team featured three frontline pacers in Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam, along with two spinners in Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain.Afghanistan entered the series with momentum from their 2-1 victory over South Africa in September, while Bangladesh had not played an ODI in eight months. This match also marked Bangladesh's first ODI in Sharjah in 29 years.

In a thrilling encounter at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 tournament, Afghanistan A emerged victorious over India A by 20 runs, securing their place in the summit clash against Sri Lanka A.Afghanistan A's openers, Sediqullah Atal and Zubaid Akbari, set the tone for their team's dominant performance. Atal smashed 83 runs off 52 balls, including four sixes and seven boundaries, while Akbari contributed 64 runs off 41 balls, hitting four sixes and five fours. Their 137-run opening partnership laid the foundation for Afghanistan A's impressive total of 206/4.In response, India A struggled to gain momentum, losing three wickets within the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and Tilak Varma were dismissed cheaply, leaving India A reeling at 48/3. Ayush Badoni and Nehal Wadhera attempted to steady the innings, but Afghanistan A's bowlers kept the pressure on.Ramandeep Singh emerged as a beacon of hope for India A, scoring a valiant half-century. He forged a 68-run partnership with Nishant Sindhu in just 31 balls, giving India A a glimmer of hope. However, Nishant's unfortunate run-out in the 16th over proved to be a turning point.With India A needing 53 runs from the last three overs, the momentum shifted decisively in Afghanistan A's favor. Abdul Rahman held his nerve in the final over, dismissing Ramandeep on the last delivery and restricting India A to 186/7.In the other semifinal, Sri Lanka A displayed their bowling prowess, restricting Pakistan Shaheens to a modest 135/9. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha was the star performer, claiming 4/21, while Nipun Ranskika and Eshan Malinga chipped in with two wickets each. Sri Lanka A chased down the target in 16.3 overs, setting up a tantalizing final against Afghanistan A.

Afghanistan has bolstered its squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh with the inclusion of opening batter Sediqullah Atal and left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad. The 19-man squad will face Bangladesh in three ODIs from November 6 to 11 in Sharjah.Atal, who has six T20I caps, has been in impressive form at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 tournament, scoring 52, 95 not out, and 83. Noor, on the other hand, returns to the squad after a stellar performance in the Caribbean Premier League, where he was named Player of the Series for his 22 wickets for the St Lucia Kings.Afghanistan Cricket Board chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil explained the squad changes: "Ibrahim Zadran is currently undergoing rehabilitation and continues to recover from the surgery he recently had. Mujeeb Ur Rahman also remains unavailable due to ongoing treatment.""However, Noor Ahmad is back in the squad, and we have included a promising top-order batter in Sediqullah Atal, who has impressed everyone with his consistent top performances."Afghanistan will use the Bangladesh series as part of its preparation for the Champions Trophy in February 2025. In their previous assignment, the three ODIs against South Africa, Afghanistan created history with their first series win against an opposition ranked in the top five of the ICC rankings.

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."