Sport
Afghanistan hand South Africa another heavy defeat
The win sealed the series for Afghanistan, who had registered a first ever triumph over South Africa when they won the opening ODI on Wednesday by six wickets.
Afghanistan registered another emphatic victory over South Africa on Friday, beating them by 177 runs in the second one-day international to take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series in Sharjah.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a record-setting century as Afghanistan reached 311-4 off their 50 overs and then Rashid Khan, celebrating his 26th birthday, took five wickets to skittle out South Africa for 134.
The win sealed the series for Afghanistan, who had registered a first ever triumph over South Africa when they won the opening ODI on Wednesday by six wickets.
Afghanistan were always on top in Friday’s contest after winning the toss and electing to bat, putting the South African attack to the sword from the start as the flat track offered little for the bowlers to work with.
Gurbaz became Afghanistan’s most prolific ODI centurion, with seven to his name, as he scored 105 off 110 balls while an unbeaten 86 from Azmatullah Omarzai ensured they posted an imposing target.
Opener Gurbaz kept the scoreboard consistently ticking over, taking 56 balls to reach his half century, before spending a couple of overs nervously approaching his ton, finally sweeping behind square leg to go to three figures.
Omarazi’s runs came off 50 balls and included six sixes at the end of the innings as South Africa’s bowlers wilted in the heat and were hit to all corners.
There was also 50 for Rahmat Shah before he was stumped off the bowling of debutant spinner Nqabayomzi Peter.
South Africa made a positive start to their reply as captain Temba Bavuma, back after illness kept him out of the first game, and Tony de Zorzi put on 73 for the first wicket.
But after Bavuma skyed a bouncer and was caught by Mohammad Nabi off Omarazi, wickets tumbled in quick succession.
Khan, who had struggled with a hamstring injury while batting, was destroyer-in-chief with 5-19 in nine overs while left arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote cleaned up the tail with 4-26.
The last match of the series is also in Sharjah on Sunday.
(Reuters)
Sport
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan set for friendly cricket clash in Khost
The match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that it will host Uzbekistan’s national cricket team for a one-off T20 international on July 10 at the Rahmat Wali Masroori Cricket Ground in Khost province.
According to the ACB, the match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.
The friendly match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, with an Afghan XI taking on the visiting Uzbek side. The game will be broadcast live across Afghanistan and internationally through various linear and digital platforms.
Quoted by the ACB, Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan said the board remains committed to supporting emerging cricket nations such as Uzbekistan and is ready to extend similar assistance to other countries seeking to develop the sport.
He noted that the ACB has already organized capacity-building programs and training workshops for members of the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan, while several Uzbek fast bowlers also participated in the ACB’s specialized Fast Bowling Camp last year.
Khan added that Uzbekistan has consistently maintained a friendly policy toward Afghanistan and that the two countries have strengthened cooperation in healthcare, politics, and trade in recent years. He said closer collaboration in cricket development would further deepen relations between the two neighboring nations.
Sport
Serbian Dejan Dedovic appointed head coach of Afghanistan national futsal team
Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.
The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has appointed Serbian coach Dejan Dedovic as the new head coach of the national futsal team on a two-year contract.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by AFF officials, futsal committee members, technical staff, and sports journalists.
Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.
The federation also announced several additions to the national team’s coaching staff. Iran’s Javad Asghari Moqaddam has been appointed technical director, while Morteza Mansour Samaei will serve as goalkeeping coach. Spain’s Uriel Masana has joined as assistant coach, Iran’s Sadeq Amani as fitness coach, and Brazil’s Joao Lira as team analyst.
In addition, the AFF renewed the contract of Mohammad Nasir Sedaqat as manager of the national futsal team.
The federation said it expects the newly assembled coaching staff to contribute to the continued development of Afghan futsal and strengthen the team’s competitiveness at the regional and international levels.
Sport
India clinch ODI series against Afghanistan
The India national cricket team defeated Afghanistan in the third and final One Day International (ODI), sealing the series with a 9-wicket victory and lifting the series trophy.
Afghanistan won the toss in the final match and opted to bat first.
Batting first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs, setting India a target of 219 runs.
Hashmatullah Shahidi played a superb innings, scoring 102 runs off 131 deliveries, anchoring the Afghan batting effort.
In reply, India made light work of the chase, reaching 219 for the loss of just one wicket in 28.4 overs, completing a dominant run chase.
India had already taken an unassailable lead in the series by winning the first ODI by 7 wickets and the second by 170 runs, before sealing a comprehensive 3–0 series sweep in the final match.
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