Sport
Afghanistan announce squad for Test match against Sri Lanka
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Monday announced the nation’s squad for the one-off Test match against Sri Lanka that is scheduled to be played from February 2-6 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo.
Rashid Khan continues to recover from back surgery and will miss the Test match.
Meanwhile, the leg-spinning bowling all-rounder Qais Ahmad has been included in the squad as his replacement.
In addition, Noor Ali Zadran has been selected based on his recent promising performances in domestic competitions, ACB said.
Naveed Zadran and Mohammad Ishaq, a wicket-keeper batter, have earned maiden call-ups to the team. Both put on some impressive performances during last year’s Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class and the recently held Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional List A Tournament, as well as during Afghanistan A team’s tour of Oman in October last year.
“It’s quite pleasing to be playing our first test against Sri Lanka, who have a rich history of playing test-match cricket,” ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said. “The year 2024 is packed with test cricket for us, as we will be playing several test matches during the year. Same as our white-ball lineups, we are committed to strengthening our red-ball cricket and building a formidable test side as well.”
Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, the newly appointed interim Chief Selector, said: “The team underwent a two-week preparation camp in Nangarhar followed by a 10-day conditioning camp in Abu Dhabi, which featured all the support staff to work with the players and ensure full preparation for the series. We have thoroughly monitored the camps and have picked the squad which includes several new faces who have excelled during the recent domestic events.”
This will be Afghanistan’s 8th overall Test match and its first against Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Ikram Alikhail (WK), Mohammad Ishaq (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Abdul Malik, Baheer Shah, Nasir Jamal, Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Zia Ur Rehman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Nijat Masoud, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Naveed Zadran.
Afghanistan’s Tour of Sri Lanka
Afghanistan will start their tour of Sri Lanka with a one-off Test scheduled to start on February 2.
Following the Test, Afghanistan will play a three-match ODI series and then three T20Is against the host nation.
All matches, including the Test, will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The team is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 30.
With most of the focus on the two limited-overs formats, Afghanistan ended up playing just one Test match over the better part of the last three years. Now, however, they’ve found space in the calendar and have two separate all-format series taking place between February 2 and March 18.
Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka
February 2-6, 2024 One-Off Test
February 9, 2024, 1st ODI
February 11, 2024, 2nd ODI
February 14, 2024, 3rd ODI
February 17, 2024, 1st T20I
February 19, 2024, 2nd T20I
February 21, 2024, 3rd T20I
Stay tuned!
Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch this exciting tour that will be brought to you live and exclusively by Ariana Television Network.
Watch this space for updates, news, and broadcast schedules!
Sport
Sorkh Poshan Khafi rout Istiqlal Kabul 6-0 in ACL season six
Sorkh Poshan Khafi secured a convincing 6-0 victory over Esteqlal Kabul today (Friday) in the 23rd match of the sixth season of the Afghanistan Champions League at the Football Federation Stadium in Kabul.
Reza Gholami opened the scoring for Sorkh Poshan Khafi in the fourth minute with a header before Sohrab Afghan doubled the lead in the 21st minute.
Afghan struck again four minutes into the second half to make it 3-0, while Yar Mohammad added the fourth goal in the 52nd minute.
Sorkh Poshan Khafi completed the rout with two further goals in the 68th and 70th minutes, securing a 6-0 win.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
Sport
Afghanistan Champions League: Arman FC and Aino Mina play out goalless draw
Arman FC will return to action on September 28, when they face Sarsabz Yashlar. Aino Mina Kandahar will play their next match on September 29 against Toofan Herat.
Arman FC and Aino Mina Kandahar played out a goalless draw on Friday in the 22nd match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium in Kabul.
Both sides started the match with an attacking approach, creating several opportunities and making efforts to break the deadlock. However, neither team was able to convert their chances as the first half ended without a goal.
The attacking contest continued after the restart, with both Arman FC and Aino Mina looking for an opening goal. Arman FC continued to push forward in search of a breakthrough, while Aino Mina also created opportunities of their own.
Despite the efforts from both sides and several attempts to find the decisive goal, neither team managed to unlock the opposition defense. The match ultimately ended 0–0, with both teams taking a point from the encounter.
The match also saw Aino Mina commit 15 fouls and receive one yellow card. Arman FC committed eight fouls and finished the game without receiving either a yellow or a red card.
Arman FC will return to action on September 28, when they face Sarsabz Yashlar. Aino Mina Kandahar will play their next match on September 29 against Toofan Herat.
Matches in the sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League are broadcast live on Ariana Television.
Sport
Nepal beat Afghanistan in Asian Games cricket
Nepal made a strong start to their Asian Games campaign on Friday, defeating Afghanistan by six wickets after bowling them out for 102.
Afghanistan, who had beaten Japan in their opening match, struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack after choosing to bat first.
Afghanistan lost their first three wickets for just 16 runs. Faisal Shinozada then steadied the innings with 30 runs from 33 balls, putting together a 39-run partnership with Najibullah Zadran.
However, Shinozada’s dismissal triggered another collapse, with Afghanistan falling from 55 for four to 65 for six. Zadran remained at the crease and scored 30, while Nangeyalia Kharote added 17 runs to help Afghanistan pass 100.
Nepal’s bowlers Lalit Rajbanshi and Kushal Bhurtel were the main contributors. Rajbanshi took three wickets for 13 runs, while Bhurtel claimed four for 21 and came close to a hat-trick.
Chasing 103, Nepal also lost two early wickets to slip to 12 for two. Captain Rohit Paudel and Sundeep Jora then steadied the innings.
Paudel remained unbeaten on 33, while Jora scored 34 as Nepal comfortably moved towards the target and completed the chase with six wickets in hand.
The victory gives Nepal a winning start to their Asian Games campaign, while Afghanistan now have one win and one defeat from their opening two matches.
Nepal will face Japan on September 26, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
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