Sport
Afghanistan, Bangladesh set for high-stakes series in UAE
The tour kicks off on Thursday, October 2, with the final ODI scheduled for October 14 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Afghanistan and Bangladesh are gearing up for a crucial white-ball series in the United Arab Emirates, with a three-match T20I series in Sharjah followed by three ODIs in Abu Dhabi.
The tour kicks off on Thursday, October 2, with the final ODI scheduled for October 14 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Both sides are fielding squads packed with rising stars and proven performers, making the series one of the most anticipated contests in the run-up to next year’s ICC tournaments.
Afghanistan will be led by star leg-spinner Rashid Khan in T20Is, with Hashmatullah Shahidi captaining the ODI side.
The Afghans bring a balanced squad featuring experienced names like Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman alongside younger talents such as Noor Ahmad, Ibrahim Zadran, and Azmatullah Omarzai.
Currently ranked seventh in ODIs, Afghanistan will be keen to build momentum after an impressive run at the Asia Cup recently.
Bangladesh, captained by wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali in the T20 format, arrive with a squad that blends youth and experience.
Key players include Towhid Hridoy, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzid Hasan, all of whom played pivotal roles in recent tournaments.
While the Bangladesh Cricket Board has yet to finalize its ODI squad, the Tigers—ranked 10th in ODIs—will be eager to prove themselves against an Afghan side that has steadily climbed the rankings.
The series will open with back-to-back T20Is in Sharjah on October 2 and 3, followed by the third T20I on October 5.
The ODI series shifts to Abu Dhabi, with matches scheduled for October 8, 11, and 14.
Beyond the team battles, individual performances will be closely watched.
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran, ranked 10th among ODI batters globally, will be looking to push higher up the ICC charts. For Bangladesh, emerging batters like Tanzid Hasan will be under the spotlight as the team seeks to bolster its limited-overs credentials.
With both nations eyeing consistency ahead of future ICC competitions, the UAE series is expected to be fiercely competitive and could play a key role in shaping their international campaigns.
Afghanistan’s cricket stars Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai have maintained their positions at the top of the latest ICC Men’s ODI rankings.
Rashid Khan remains the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world with 714 rating points.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed is second with 675 points, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has moved up to third with 667 points.
New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner is fourth with 644 points, followed by India’s Kuldeep Yadav on 623.
Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai continues to hold the top position in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings with 337 points, giving Afghanistan two players at No. 1 in different ODI categories. Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh follow him in the list.
Abu Muslim Farah beat Omar Zawak Herat 4-0 in the 30th match of the sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League, delivering an impressive performance.
The match was played today (Wednesday) at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.
Samiullah Naderi scored Abu Muslim Farah’s opening goal in the final minutes of the first half.
Abu Muslim Farah continued their attacking play in the second half, with Aman Sardari scoring the team’s second goal in the 69th minute with a spectacular header.
Omid Rajabi and Mirois Ghafouri then added two more goals to complete a 4-0 victory for Abu Muslim Farah.
Amanullah Sardari, captain of Abu Muslim Farah, was named Player of the Match against Omar Zawak Herat.
Abu Muslim Farah will face Ariana Khost in their next match on October 2, while Omar Zawak Herat will take on Istiqlal Kabul on the same day.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s High Performance Center is set to launch a nationwide fast-bowling talent identification program, titled “Afghan Thunder,” across several provinces throughout October.
According to the ACB, the program will begin in Kunduz on October 4, with assessments continuing in Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, Khost, Paktia and Kunar before concluding in Nangarhar on October 27.
The board says eligible participants must be between 19 and 26 years old, at least 180 centimeters tall, hold a valid electronic National ID (e-Tazkira) and be capable of bowling at speeds of at least 140 kilometers per hour.
The assessment schedule is as follows: Kunduz on October 4–5, Herat on October 9–10, Kandahar on October 12, Kabul on October 14–15, Khost on October 19, Paktia on October 21, Kunar on October 25 and Nangarhar on October 27.
The ACB has encouraged eligible players who believe they have the potential to develop into high-level fast bowlers to take part in the Afghan Thunder Fast-Bowling Talent Hunt Program on the designated dates.
The board says the initiative aims to identify promising fast-bowling talent from across Afghanistan and provide talented players with a pathway into the country’s high-performance cricket system.
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