Sharjah Warriorz continued their winning run in the DP World ILT20 Season 4, defeating Gulf Giants by 11 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday to make it two wins from two matches.

A composed batting effort led by Tom Abell, followed by disciplined bowling spearheaded by Matheesha Pathirana, proved decisive as the Warriorz successfully defended a total of 174/6.

Abell anchored the innings with a polished 68 off 41 balls, striking five fours and three sixes. After an early setback that saw Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Johnson Charles dismissed cheaply, Abell steadied the innings alongside James Rew, who contributed 39 off 33. The pair added 71 runs before Abell fell, with Dwaine Pretorius providing late impetus with a quick 28 off 13 to lift the Warriorz to a competitive total.

In reply, the Gulf Giants suffered an early collapse as Wasim Akram and Taskin Ahmed removed Pathum Nissanka and James Vince inside the powerplay. Matheesha Pathirana further dented the chase with a wicket-maiden, leaving the Giants struggling at 44/4 after six overs.

Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 26) and Moeen Ali (45 off 41) mounted a brief recovery, adding 79 runs for the fifth wicket. However, timely breakthroughs halted the momentum, with Akram breaking the partnership and Pathirana striking again in the death overs.

The Warriorz bowlers maintained pressure late in the innings, with Pathirana and Pretorius picking up key wickets to restrict the Giants to 163/9 and seal the 11-run win.

Pathirana finished with three wickets and was named Player of the Match, while stand-in captain Sikander Raza praised his bowling unit for executing plans under pressure and closing out crucial moments.

Cricket fans across Afghanistan can meanwhile tune in to Ariana Television today, Tuesday December 16, from 2pm to watch the next match, between Sharjah Warriorz and MI Emirates.

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction will take place on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi, with franchises set to compete for 77 available slots across the ten teams ahead of the new season.

A total purse of approximately $28.6 million will be available at the auction, where teams will look to fine-tune their squads following the completion of player retentions.

With squad sizes capped at 25 players, franchises are expected to focus on filling specialised T20 roles, particularly in the bowling department, making for intense bidding battles.

Kolkata Knight Riders will enter the auction with the largest remaining purse, holding around $7.75 million, positioning them as a key influencer in how the bidding unfolds. Chennai Super Kings follow with a sizeable budget of about $5.23 million, while Sunrisers Hyderabad have roughly $3.07 million available.

Other teams’ remaining budgets include Lucknow Super Giants with approximately $2.76 million, Delhi Capitals at $2.63 million, Royal Challengers Bengaluru with $1.98 million, and Rajasthan Royals close behind at $1.93 million. Gujarat Titans will have about $1.55 million, Punjab Kings around $1.39 million, while Mumbai Indians enter the auction with the smallest purse of roughly $330,000.

The auction is expected to draw strong interest in young domestic talent alongside established international players. One of the emerging names to watch is 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Kartik Sharma, who has impressed in domestic cricket with a century on debut and a rapid 100 in the one-day format, making him a potential long-term middle-order option for franchises.

Afghanistan making its mark again

With the auction list now finalised, Afghanistan’s presence remains a key talking point, with 10 Afghan players shortlisted among the 359 names set to go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan has been one of the most impactful overseas contributors to the IPL in recent years, particularly in the spin and fast-bowling departments, and franchises are once again expected to show strong interest in Afghan talent.

Among the headline names is Mujeeb Rahman, who features in the top base-price bracket and remains one of the most sought-after mystery spinners in T20 cricket. Naveen-ul-Haq, known for his variations at the death, is another prominent Afghan name likely to attract bidding interest, especially from teams looking to strengthen their pace options.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, listed at a mid-range base price, offers explosive starts at the top of the order and wicketkeeping depth, making him a valuable multi-skill option.

The Afghan contingent also includes Fazalhaq Farooqi, whose left-arm pace and ability to swing the new ball have earned him recognition across global leagues, as well as Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil and Qais Ahmad, both proven spin options in T20 formats.

All-rounder Gulbadin Naib adds further balance with his experience and lower-order hitting, while young batting talent Sediqullah Atal represents the next generation of Afghan cricketers pushing for an IPL breakthrough.

At the other end of the spectrum is Wahidullah Zadran, the youngest player in the auction at just over 18 years old. His inclusion underlines the growing depth of Afghanistan’s cricket pipeline and the IPL’s continued role as a platform for emerging Afghan players to gain global exposure.

As franchises compete to fill the remaining 77 slots within tight purse constraints, Afghan players are once again expected to be in demand for their adaptability, value-for-money skill sets, and proven performances in pressure situations. For Afghanistan cricket, the IPL 2026 auction represents not just commercial opportunity, but another significant step in cementing the country’s influence on the global T20 stage.

The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to begin in the second half of March next year, and the Abu Dhabi auction is seen as a critical step in shaping team combinations for the campaign. Fans worldwide will be closely watching to see which franchises make the smartest moves as bidding wars and late surprises unfold.

Ariana Television Network (ATN) will broadcast the auction live across Afghanistan on Tuesday, allowing fans in the country to follow the proceedings in real time.

The winners of The Best FIFA Football Award 2025 will be announced on Tuesday, 16 December, during a gala ceremony in Doha, Qatar, FIFA has confirmed.

The tenth edition of the awards will be held at the FIFA Celebration 2025 Dinner, at the Fairmont Katara Hall, on the eve of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 202 final between Paris Saint-Germain and CR Flamengo at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

The event will be broadcast across Afghanistan on Ariana Television. Broadcast times are still to be confirmed.

The ceremony will bring together around 800 guests, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, members of the FIFA Council, FIFA Legends, representatives of member associations, and prominent figures from the global football community.

Awards for the best players and coaches in women’s and men’s football will be revealed during the evening, while winners in categories such as best fans, goalkeepers and goals will be announced earlier through digital videos on FIFA platforms and social media. The recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be revealed.

Fans have played a central role in determining the winners, casting more than 16 million votes across several categories.

Major awards, including The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Player, and the top coaching and goalkeeping honors, were decided through an equally weighted voting system involving fans, national team captains and coaches, and media representatives.

Fans also took part in selecting The Best FIFA Women’s 11 and Men’s 11. Voting for the FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award, which recognize the best goals in women’s and men’s football, was shared equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends.

The FIFA Fan Award was decided entirely by supporters, while the FIFA Fair Play Award was chosen by an expert panel.

Updated information will be provided to fans across Afghanistan ahead of the event. Fans can ‘stay tuned’ to Ariana News web site and social media platforms as well as Ariana Television’s social media platforms.