Sport
Afghanistan shock New Zealand by 84 runs for first win in history
Rampant Afghanistan mauled a lethargic New Zealand by 84 runs to grab top spot in Group C at the T20 World Cup with a shock win at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday AEST.
Set a challenging 160 for victory, the Black Caps crashed to 75 all out off 15.2 overs to suffer their first defeat ever to Afghanistan in T20Is.
Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the way for the Afghans with a top score of 80 off 56 balls, which included five sixes, posting 103 for the first wicket with Ibrahim Zadran (44) on the way to 6-159.
Left-arm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi then followed his five-wicket opening match demolition of Uganda with the first three wickets of the New Zealand innings before coming back to claim a fourth, sealing the win.
Captain and formidable leg-spinner Rashid Khan shared the bowling honours with a haul of 4-17, including opposite number Kane Williamson with the first ball of his spell.
New Zealand’s capitulation and obvious rustiness leaves the 2021 finalists with a tough challenge ahead, starting against co-hosts West Indies in Trinidad next Wednesday.
“Congrats to Afghanistan, they simply outplayed up in all facets,” Williamson said after the defeat.
“The skills they had made it difficult for us.”
Afghanistan will next face Papua New Guinea at Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Friday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.
(AFP)
Sport
Afghanistan to face Japan and Nepal in Asian Games cricket group stage
The team departed Kabul for Tokyo on Sunday.
Afghanistan cricket team will face Japan and Nepal in the group stage of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Afghanistan has been drawn in Group A alongside Japan and Nepal. The Afghan team will play its first group-stage match against Japan on September 24 in Nisshin city, followed by a match against Nepal on September 25, also in Nisshin.
The other three teams competing in the group stage are Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman, who have been placed in Group B.
Meanwhile, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been directly seeded into the quarter-finals.
Afghanistan’s 15-member squad for the Asian Games is led by Darwish Rasooli as captain, with Mohammad Ishaq serving as wicketkeeper.
The squad includes Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Khalid Taniwal, Imran Mir, Faisal Khan Shinozada, Najibullah Zadran, Farmanullah Safi, Ismat Alam, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Arab Gul Momand, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Abdullah Ahmadzai.
The team departed Kabul for Tokyo on Sunday.
Mohammad Khalid Hotak, an Afghan wushu athlete, advanced to the next round of the wushu competition at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, after defeating his Yemeni opponent on Sunday.
Hotak competed in the 70-kilogram weight category and defeated his Yemeni rival in his first bout.
He is scheduled to face an Indonesian athlete in his second bout tomorrow (Tuesday)
Afghanistan is represented by a seven-member wushu team at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.
Sport
Sorkh Poshan Khafi beat Toofan Herat 3-1 in Afghanistan Champions League
The win keeps Sorkh Poshan Khafi unbeaten in the competition and strengthens their position among the early leaders.
Sorkh Poshan Khafi continued their strong start to the sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Toofan Herat on Sunday.
The win keeps Sorkh Poshan Khafi unbeaten in the competition and strengthens their position among the early leaders.
Sorkh Poshan Khafi took control of the match and found the net three times, while Toofan Herat managed one goal in response.
Sorkh Poshan Khafi’s Yaser Safi was named Player of the Match following an impressive individual performance that helped his team secure another important victory.
Enayatullah Kohi scored the only goal for Toofan Herat, while Yaser Safi netted his team’s first goal. This was followed by Naweed Mahbobi’s goal and later Sahel Sarwari netted the third goal for Sorkh Poshan.
The result extends Sorkh Poshan Khafi’s winning run after they opened their campaign with victories over Aino Mina and Arman FC. They are also currently sitting at the top of the leader board with 9 points.
For Toofan Herat, the defeat is another setback after the side had started the competition with a win over Istiqlal Kabul. They will now look to respond in their next fixture and get their campaign back on track.
With three wins from three matches, Sorkh Poshan Khafi have made an impressive start to the Afghanistan Champions League and will be looking to maintain their momentum as the competition continues.
Live and exclusive on ATN
Ariana Television Network (ATN) is broadcasting all Afghanistan Champions League matches live and exclusively in Afghanistan.
Fans can follow ATN’s social media platforms for match schedules, live updates, results, highlights and other Afghanistan Champions League content throughout the season
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