Sport
Afghanistan move up to third in World Cup Super League after beating Zimbabwe
Afghanistan stormed into the top three on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League standings after defeating hosts Zimbabwe by 60 runs in the first match of a three-game One-Day International series on Saturday.
Sent to bat first by Zimbabwe who won the toss, Afghanistan posted 276-5 as they played all the mandated 50 overs at Harare Sports Club.
Rahmat Shah made 94 while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi hit 88.
In reply, Zimbabwe scored 216 before their last man was dismissed in the last ball of the innings.
Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with his four wickets. Rashid Khan took two wickets including that of Sikandar Raza who was top-scorer for Zimbabwe with 67 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi also took two wickets.
Earlier, four of five wickets for Zimbabwe were taken by Blessing Muzarabani alone.
With the win, Afghanistan moved up to third spot in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League table in which Bangladesh sit on top and England in second spot.
Afghanistan and Zimbabwe will meet for their second ODI on Monday.
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.
Four members of one family killed in Helmand in Pakistan airstrike
UNAMA acting chief visits Islam Qala border to assess support for returnees
Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai maintain top spots in ICC ODI rankings
Trump: Unlike Afghanistan, US took all equipment from Iraq
Afghanistan, Belarus discuss expanding industrial and trade cooperation
Saudi energy group signs major Afghanistan deals covering gas exploration and pipeline plans
Iranian clubs to face Gulf opponents at neutral venues in Asian Champions League Elite
Khalilzad: Afghanistan ready to attract major investment
Ariana Television Network secures exclusive rights to Afghanistan’s 2026/27 cricket series
El Niño likely to intensify, may become strongest ever recorded, WMO says
Tahawol: Improvement in Afghanistan-China relations discussed
Saar: Expanding ties with regional and global countries discussed
Tahawol: Absence of Afghanistan’s envoy at UNGA discussed
Saar: Assessment of war between Afghanistan and US discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s image at UNGA
-
Sport4 days agoAfghan bodybuilder Ali Bilal finishes runner-up at Mr Olympia for third straight year
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghanistan says 28 killed, 32 captured in Nuristan operation
-
World4 days agoTrump rejects Iranian proposal to open Hormuz and end fighting
-
Sport5 days agoAfghanistan Champions League: Omar Zawak Herat beat Toofan Herat 1-0
-
Sport3 days agoAfghanistan vs India Asian Games quarter-final abandoned without a toss
-
Latest News4 days agoUNDP, UN Women launch financing initiative for Afghan women entrepreneurs
-
Latest News4 days agoGermany reports 488 Afghans for possible deportation, 267 have no criminal convictions
-
Regional4 days agoAimal Wali Khan calls Dera Ismail Khan attack a ‘state failure’