Sport

‘Champion mindset’ as Pant-inspired Delhi hammer Gujarat in IPL

Published

1 month ago

April 18, 2024

(Last Updated On: April 18, 2024)

Sharp glovework by skipper Rishabh Pant and some inspired bowling set up a crushing six-wicket win for Delhi Capitals after Gujarat Titans fell to their IPL lowest of 89 on Wednesday.

Medium-pace bowler Mukesh Kumar stood out with figures of 3-14 to help bundle out Gujarat in 17.3 overs and Delhi raced to their target in 8.5 overs in Ahmedabad.

Delhi, who were without injured David Warner, registered just their third win and second successive of this season to jump three places to sixth in the 10-team table.

Pant, who returned to this year’s IPL after surviving a horror car crash, stood unbeaten on 16 after Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk made a brisk 20.

The 26-year-old Pant, a left-hand batsman, has scored 210 runs, including two half-centuries, in a boost to his chances of a return to the T20 World Cup in June.

“Lots of things to be pleased about,” said man of the match Pant. “We spoke about champion mindset and our team spoke about it.”

On his performance after his recovery, Pant added: “The only thought process before coming to the field is that I wanted to come in a better way, that’s the only thought when I was going through my rehab.

“Each and every match I am loving the process and being on the ground.”

Pant suffered multiple injuries when his Mercedes rammed into a barrier, flipped and caught fire in December 2022. He was hospitalized before being airlifted to Mumbai for further treatment and surgery.

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma dismissed captain Shubman Gill for eight in the second over of the match and Gujarat kept losing wickets to some disciplined bowling.

The fielding remained impressive after Sumit Kumar sent back Sai Sudarshan for 12 with a direct throw at the non-striker’s end.

Pant was nimble behind the stumps and started with a diving catch to dismiss David Miller off Ishant.

The wicketkeeper affected two stumpings when his quick work sent back Abhinav Manohar, for eight, and Shahrukh Khan, for a duck in the space of three balls off South African spinner Tristan Stubbs.

Gujarat slipped to 66-7, but Rashid Khan resisted from one end with his gritty 31 off 24 balls before he fell caught behind with Pant taking a regulation catch behind the stumps.

“Our batting was very average, but it’s important to move on and come back strong,” said Gill. “The wicket was alright, if you see some of the dismissals, it had nothing to do with the pitch.”

Gujarat’s total is the lowest this season in contrast to some big scores including two record highs of 277 and then 287 by Sunrisers Hyderabad. – AFP

Related Topics:Delhi Capitals Gujarat Titans TATA IPL 2024

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Aino Mina delivers 10-2 beating to Maiwand in ACL match

Published

1 day ago

May 20, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 20, 2024)

Aino Mina FC thrashed Maiwand FC 10-2 in the 59th match of the Afghanistan Champions League (ACL) in Kabul on Sunday.

Highest scoring player was Ahmad Nabi Moqadas, who drove the ball into the net five times and was later declared man of the match.

Abdul Majid Khan managed two goals while fellow players Rahman Mohammadi, Aziz Ahmadi and Rashid Nazari each scored a single goal.

In the second match Sunday, Attack Energy thumped Mawj Sahil 4-0. The man of the match of this game was Ahmad Nabi Moqadas

With less than a week left in this year’s league, every goal is critical to the teams.

Twelve teams in total are taking part in the event which kicked off on Saturday, April 20. The event is expected to wrap up on Thursday, May 23.

Monday will see two matches, both to be broadcast live by Ariana Television.

In the first match of the day, Sorkh Poshan Khafi will take on Abu Muslim Farah FC at 1pm.

The next match will see Istiqlal Kabul FC take on Sarsabz Yashlar FC at 3.30pm.

This year’s thrilling event is being jointly hosted by the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), Ariana Television Network (ATN) and sponsor Victor Energy Drink.

Football fans across the country can tune in daily to Ariana Television to watch their favorite team take to the field.

Sport

Rashid Khan returns home, officially introduced as AWCC’s brand ambassador

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 19, 2024)

Afghanistan’s cricket superstar Rashid Khan was officially introduced Saturday as brand ambassador for Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC).

Rashid landed in Kabul on Saturday after an absence of several years. He returned following an official invitation from AWCC.

For years now, Rashid has followed the international cricket league circuit – playing for big name events including Indian Premier League (IPL), Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) among others.

In March 2018, during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, he captained Afghanistan for the first time in an ODI match – becoming the youngest player to captain an international side, at the age of 19 years and 165 days.

Rashid, a right-handed batsman and right-arm legbreak bowler, holds numerous records, including being the youngest player to become the No. 1 bowler in One Day International Rankings.

He also holds the record for the best bowling figures for an associate nation in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the fastest bowler to complete 100 dismissals in T20 Internationals.

Rashid is a key player for Afghanistan and has contributed significantly to the country’s success in international cricket.

In line with Rashid’s commitment to the game, his resilience and determination to always do his best, AWCC moved to employ him as the company’s brand ambassador.

Aliullah Sarwari, CEO of AWCC, said at a ceremony in Kabul to mark the announcement and Rashid’s return to the country, that the company strives to ensure all citizens have access to high-quality telecommunications and internet services in the farthest and most remote areas of Afghanistan.

Sarwari added that high-quality telecommunication services, new technology, creating employment and access to the internet for all citizens in the farthest parts of the country are among the most important objectives of this company.

He also stated that the appointment of Rashid as brand ambassador for AWCC was made from a commercial and spiritual perspective.

Rashid, meanwhile, said it is the first time that he has been chosen as an ambassador and that he will try to serve the people and the country in the same way that he shines on the cricket field.

“I am happy and proud that I have been selected as a brand ambassador of Afghan Wireless for the first time,” said Rashid.

As a hero to his fellow countrymen, Rashid received a warm welcome on arrival in Kabul and thousands of cricket fans posted messages on social media to welcome him home.

One fan, Mohammad Sharif Noori, said on Facebook: “Thank God that you came. You are the pride of Afghanistan.”

Ishq Yousufzai, another fan, wrote on his social media page: “The pride of the homeland. The champion of Afghanistan.”

Sport

T20 World Cup warm-up match schedule released, Afghanistan to face Oman and Scotland

Published

4 days ago

May 17, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 17, 2024)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the much-anticipated warm-up match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. These preparatory games will take place from Monday, May 27 to Saturday, June 1, across various venues in the USA and the West Indies.

Venues and teams

The 16 warm-up matches will be hosted at the following locations:

Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
Broward County Stadium, Florida
Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

A total of 17 teams will participate in these matches, including South Africa, which will conduct an intra-squad game on May 29 in Florida. These matches will not carry official T20 international status, allowing teams the flexibility to field all members of their 15-player squads.

Schedule highlights

Unlike previous editions, teams now have the option to play up to two warm-up matches based on their arrival time.

Afghanistan will participate in two warm-up game, set for May 29 against Oman and May 31 against Scotland. Meanwhile, Pakistan and England will not engage in any warm-up fixtures as they will be engaging in a bilateral T20I series, which concludes on May 30.

The Afghanistan national cricket team departed Kabul on Thursday for the UAE to begin their T20 World Cup journey, which will be hosted by the U.S.

Afghanistan Cricket Board said some players participating in the IPL will join the team in the UAE.

It added that those whose IPL matches are still ongoing will join their teammates in the West Indies.

T20 World Cup Warm-up fixtures

Monday, May 27