Sport

ACB name squad for ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2024

Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Selection Committee has finalized the Afghanistan squad for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to begin on January 19 in South Africa.

Afghanistan Future Stars’ regular skipper Naseer Khan is expected to recover in time and is set to lead the team at the mega event, with the wicket-keeper batter Numan Shah being appointed as his deputy.

Top-order batter Ali Ahmad Nasar has been recalled to the squad after missing the recently held ACC U19 Men’s Asia Cup 2024, whereas the opening batter Hassan Eisakhil, the right-arm leg-spinner Arab Gul Momand and the right-arm fast bowler Zahid Afghan are included in the Afghanistan squad after featuring at the Youth Tri-Series last week in Johannesburg.

Naseeb Khan, the ACB CEO highlighted the team’s preparation and expressed his optimism for the team to do well in the event and make the nation proud.

“The team has been part of two major events in the last month as well as has been engaged in extreme training camps over the past six months in the buildup for this mega event. We hope that the team will do well and repeat their success from the previous edition of the World Cup. We wish the team success in the upcoming event,” he said.

The squad is as follows:

Naseer Khan (Captain), Numan Shah (Vice Captain and Wicket-Keeper), Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Jamshid Zadran, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Ali Ahmad Nasar, Sohail Khan Zurmati, Rahimullah Zurmati, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Bashir Ahmad Afghan, Khalil Ahmad and Zahid Afghan.

Wahidullah Zadran, Nasir Hassan and Usman Shinwari are the three players included in the squad.

Afghanistan has been placed in Pool D of the competition alongside Pakistan, New Zealand and Nepal and will begin their campaign against Pakistan on Saturday, January 20 at the Buffalo Park Cricket Ground in East London.

Before stepping into the main draw of the event, Afghanistan will face England and South Africa on January 14 & 16 as part of the team’s warm up matches before the start of the main draw of the event.

Super Cola Beverages Manufacturing Company has secured the sponsorship rights of the Afghanistan U19 National Team for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

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Sport

Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2026

Ariana News

Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 after strong performances at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

The three Asian sides join hosts Qatar as confirmed representatives from the Asian Football Confederation for the expanded 48-team tournament later this year.

Japan booked their place after defeating Qatar and then beating China 2-1 in Group B. Anthony Motosuna and Maki Kitahara scored the goals that sealed a second straight victory and guaranteed qualification.

Saudi Arabia also advanced from Group A after a 2-0 win over Thailand. Marwan Al Yami opened the scoring early before Hassan Al Okrush added a late second goal, giving the Saudis six points from two matches following their opening win against Myanmar.

Tajikistan joined them after edging Myanmar 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Asadbek Makhtumov. The victory followed Tajikistan’s opening 2-0 win over Thailand and secured their place in Qatar 2026.

More teams could qualify on Sunday as the second round of matches in Groups C and D continues, with the final group-stage fixtures set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sport

Afghan cricket delegation travels to China for technical cooperation

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2026

Ariana News

A delegation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has traveled to China following an official invitation from the Chinese government, in a move aimed at strengthening sports diplomacy and expanding technical cooperation in cricket between the two countries.

The delegation includes national coach Nawroz Mangal and players Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Faisal Shinozada, and Wahidullah Zadran.

Before their departure, ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan met with the delegation, reaffirming the board’s commitment to developing and globalizing Afghan cricket. He also referenced previous international engagement efforts, including a memorandum of understanding signed with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation focused on cricket development and technical collaboration.

Naseeb Khan highlighted existing economic and industrial ties between Afghanistan and China, expressing optimism that sports cooperation—particularly in cricket—could further strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized that knowledge-sharing, technical exchange, and joint development initiatives would support the growth of the sport in both countries.

During their visit, the Afghan delegation is expected to hold discussions on cricket development, community engagement, and the role of sport in society. The program also includes participation in workshops, attendance at a cricket match organized by Chinese cricket authorities, and visits to sports technology and innovation exhibitions.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board has increasingly pursued regional partnerships in recent years. Last year, it signed a cooperation agreement with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation covering technical exchange, capacity building, development programs, and educational workshops aimed at expanding cricket infrastructure and expertise in the region.

Sport

Los Angeles to welcome the world with historic FIFA World Cup 2026 opening event

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2026

Ariana News

The United States is set to welcome the world with a major opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Los Angeles prepares to host a star-powered celebration marking the start of the tournament across North America.

FIFA announced that global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12.

The event will officially launch what FIFA described as a “historic summer of football” across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers said the ceremony will combine football, music and entertainment in a large-scale production designed to reflect the cultural diversity and global appeal of the tournament.

Gianni Infantino said the ceremony in Los Angeles would showcase the scale and ambition of the 2026 World Cup, adding that the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the power of music to unite people.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three opening ceremonies will take place across the three host nations. Mexico City will host the first ceremony on June 11, followed by celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.

The opening match in the United States will see the U.S. national team face Paraguay. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, beginning on June 11 in Mexico City and ending with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.

Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.

Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.