Sport
D-day arrives for IPL 2024 auction
IPL auction day has arrived and the fate of over 300 cricket players will be decided over the next few hours.
This year the auction takes place in Dubai and 10 IPL teams will face off for their players of choice.
The 10 IPL teams have already announced who they have retained and traded but now need to fill their remaining slots.
According to the BCCI, a total of 1,166 players registered for this year’s auction, of which the teams shortlisted 333 names: 214 Indians and 119 overseas players.
Ten Afghanistan cricketers have registered themselves for the auction.
The Afghan players and their base price is as follows:
Mohammad Nabi at INR 1.5 crore ($180,000)
Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar at INR 20 lakhs
Azmatullah Omarzai at INR 50 lakh
Mujeeb Rahman at INR 200 lakh
Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil at INR 50 lakh
Ibrahim Zadran at INR 50 lakh
Najibullah Zadran at INR 50 lakh
Qais Ahamad at INR 50 lakh
Fareed Ahmad at INR 50 lakh
Izharulhuq Naveed at INR 50 lakh
Of the total players on auction, 116 are capped, 215 are uncapped, and two players are from Associate nations.
A total of 77 slots across the 10 teams remain to be filled. Of these, 30 are reserved for overseas players.
Gujarat Titans have the maximum money, of any team, left in their purse: INR 38.15 crore ($4.6 million approx.) and have to fill eight slots (two overseas). Lucknow Super Giants have the smallest available purse: INR 13.15 crore ($1.58 million approx.) with which to fill six slots (two overseas). The franchises have a combined remaining purse of INR 262.95 crore ($31.58 million approx), ESPNcricinfo reported.
How does the auction work
The players have been divided into 19 different sets based on their specialization: batter, allrounder, fast bowler, spinner, wicketkeeper. Capped and uncapped players will alternate after a few sets.
A total of 23 players have registered themselves in the highest base price bracket – INR 2 crore ($240,000 approx). Some of them include Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur. Thirteen players have listed their base price at INR 1.5 crore ($180,000 approx).
The auction starts Tuesday at 12pm local time and fans in Afghanistan can watch the live stream on Ariana Television’s website – https://www.arianatelevision.com/live/
Japan, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan have secured qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 after strong performances at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup.
The three Asian sides join hosts Qatar as confirmed representatives from the Asian Football Confederation for the expanded 48-team tournament later this year.
Japan booked their place after defeating Qatar and then beating China 2-1 in Group B. Anthony Motosuna and Maki Kitahara scored the goals that sealed a second straight victory and guaranteed qualification.
Saudi Arabia also advanced from Group A after a 2-0 win over Thailand. Marwan Al Yami opened the scoring early before Hassan Al Okrush added a late second goal, giving the Saudis six points from two matches following their opening win against Myanmar.
Tajikistan joined them after edging Myanmar 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Asadbek Makhtumov. The victory followed Tajikistan’s opening 2-0 win over Thailand and secured their place in Qatar 2026.
More teams could qualify on Sunday as the second round of matches in Groups C and D continues, with the final group-stage fixtures set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A delegation from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has traveled to China following an official invitation from the Chinese government, in a move aimed at strengthening sports diplomacy and expanding technical cooperation in cricket between the two countries.
The delegation includes national coach Nawroz Mangal and players Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan, Faisal Shinozada, and Wahidullah Zadran.
Before their departure, ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan met with the delegation, reaffirming the board’s commitment to developing and globalizing Afghan cricket. He also referenced previous international engagement efforts, including a memorandum of understanding signed with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation focused on cricket development and technical collaboration.
Naseeb Khan highlighted existing economic and industrial ties between Afghanistan and China, expressing optimism that sports cooperation—particularly in cricket—could further strengthen bilateral relations. He emphasized that knowledge-sharing, technical exchange, and joint development initiatives would support the growth of the sport in both countries.
During their visit, the Afghan delegation is expected to hold discussions on cricket development, community engagement, and the role of sport in society. The program also includes participation in workshops, attendance at a cricket match organized by Chinese cricket authorities, and visits to sports technology and innovation exhibitions.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board has increasingly pursued regional partnerships in recent years. Last year, it signed a cooperation agreement with the Uzbekistan Cricket Federation covering technical exchange, capacity building, development programs, and educational workshops aimed at expanding cricket infrastructure and expertise in the region.
The United States is set to welcome the world with a major opening ceremony for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as Los Angeles prepares to host a star-powered celebration marking the start of the tournament across North America.
FIFA announced that global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12.
The event will officially launch what FIFA described as a “historic summer of football” across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Organizers said the ceremony will combine football, music and entertainment in a large-scale production designed to reflect the cultural diversity and global appeal of the tournament.
Gianni Infantino said the ceremony in Los Angeles would showcase the scale and ambition of the 2026 World Cup, adding that the lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the power of music to unite people.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three opening ceremonies will take place across the three host nations. Mexico City will host the first ceremony on June 11, followed by celebrations in Toronto and Los Angeles on June 12.
The opening match in the United States will see the U.S. national team face Paraguay. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, beginning on June 11 in Mexico City and ending with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Football fans in Afghanistan will be able to follow all the action live on the Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN), which holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country. ATN will broadcast matches live on Ariana Television, providing full coverage of the world’s biggest football event for Afghan viewers.
Fans are also encouraged to stay connected with Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, including match schedules, team news, and other FIFA World Cup 2026 developments as the tournament draws closer.
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