Sport
Good News! ATN secures exclusive rights to broadcast ILT20 live in Afghanistan
It’s another round of good news from Ariana Television Network as this time, the cash-rich International League T20 (ILT20) 2024 will be broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television.
The much-awaited league gets underway on Friday, January 19, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the opening clash will see defending champions Gulf Giants take on Sharjah Warriors.
The 34-match ILT20 tournament, now in its second season, brings a touch of pizazz to the cricket league arena with all its prizes up from grabs.
For starters the winning team will walk away with $700,000 after a glittering trophy ceremony on Saturday, 17 February, while the losing finalists will get $300,000.
In addition, the tournament’s very own and unique belts for individual award winners will be up for grabs once again plus a $15,000 prize per individual award.
The best batter will be awarded the Green Belt, which was won last year by Desert Vipers’ opener Alex Hales. He will no doubt be aiming, this year, to add the belt once again to his collection.
Gulf Giants’ fast bowler Chris Jordan won both the White and Red Belts last season (best bowler and most valuable player awards) while the Blue Belt was collected by UAE captain Muhammad Waseem who plays for MI Emirates.
The Blue Belt can only be awarded to a UAE player, which the ILT20 decided to hand out to motivate and reward their local players in front of a global audience.
In addition to these belts, the player of the match award winners for each of the 34 games will get $1,500.
Build-up to the event
ILT20 organizers pulled out all the stops in the past two weeks in the build up to the tournament by hosting events across the UAE.
For fans in the country, the Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Zahia Mall in Sharjah, and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi were key venues where the iconic trophy was on display and where meet and greet sessions with cricket legends were held.
ILT20 Broadcasts
Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch this thrilling event that will be brought to you live and exclusively by Ariana Television Network. The first match will be broadcast from 6pm on Friday, but watch this space for news and further updates.
Sport
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan set for friendly cricket clash in Khost
The match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that it will host Uzbekistan’s national cricket team for a one-off T20 international on July 10 at the Rahmat Wali Masroori Cricket Ground in Khost province.
According to the ACB, the match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.
The friendly match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, with an Afghan XI taking on the visiting Uzbek side. The game will be broadcast live across Afghanistan and internationally through various linear and digital platforms.
Quoted by the ACB, Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan said the board remains committed to supporting emerging cricket nations such as Uzbekistan and is ready to extend similar assistance to other countries seeking to develop the sport.
He noted that the ACB has already organized capacity-building programs and training workshops for members of the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan, while several Uzbek fast bowlers also participated in the ACB’s specialized Fast Bowling Camp last year.
Khan added that Uzbekistan has consistently maintained a friendly policy toward Afghanistan and that the two countries have strengthened cooperation in healthcare, politics, and trade in recent years. He said closer collaboration in cricket development would further deepen relations between the two neighboring nations.
Sport
Serbian Dejan Dedovic appointed head coach of Afghanistan national futsal team
Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.
The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has appointed Serbian coach Dejan Dedovic as the new head coach of the national futsal team on a two-year contract.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by AFF officials, futsal committee members, technical staff, and sports journalists.
Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.
The federation also announced several additions to the national team’s coaching staff. Iran’s Javad Asghari Moqaddam has been appointed technical director, while Morteza Mansour Samaei will serve as goalkeeping coach. Spain’s Uriel Masana has joined as assistant coach, Iran’s Sadeq Amani as fitness coach, and Brazil’s Joao Lira as team analyst.
In addition, the AFF renewed the contract of Mohammad Nasir Sedaqat as manager of the national futsal team.
The federation said it expects the newly assembled coaching staff to contribute to the continued development of Afghan futsal and strengthen the team’s competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
Sport
India clinch ODI series against Afghanistan
The India national cricket team defeated Afghanistan in the third and final One Day International (ODI), sealing the series with a 9-wicket victory and lifting the series trophy.
Afghanistan won the toss in the final match and opted to bat first.
Batting first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs, setting India a target of 219 runs.
Hashmatullah Shahidi played a superb innings, scoring 102 runs off 131 deliveries, anchoring the Afghan batting effort.
In reply, India made light work of the chase, reaching 219 for the loss of just one wicket in 28.4 overs, completing a dominant run chase.
India had already taken an unassailable lead in the series by winning the first ODI by 7 wickets and the second by 170 runs, before sealing a comprehensive 3–0 series sweep in the final match.
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