International Sports
Ghazanfar stars as MI Emirates secure Qualifier 1 with win over Dubai Capitals
MI Emirates sealed a top-two finish with a commanding eight-wicket win over Dubai Capitals at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Saturday, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash against Desert Vipers on Tuesday.
Captain Kieron Pollard led the chase with an unbeaten 44, smashing five sixes as MI Emirates cruised to the target with ease. Earlier, their bowlers laid the foundation, with young spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar returning impressive figures of 3/28, while Shakib Al Hasan conceded just 11 runs for his lone wicket to restrict Dubai to 122/8.
Dubai Capitals struggled to build momentum throughout the innings as sustained pressure in the middle overs kept scoring in check, despite a brief contribution from James Neesham.
In response, openers Muhammad Waseem and Andre Fletcher gave MI Emirates a brisk start before Pollard and Tom Banton took control. Pollard effectively ended the contest in the 14th over, hammering Waqar Salamkheil for 30 runs. He and Banton then guided the team home with an unbroken 67-run partnership.
The outcome also confirmed that the loser of Sunday’s final league match between Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders will face Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator on January 1.
Player of the match Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar said he trusted his preparation and execution. “I bowled with the same confidence and stayed true to my plans. As a finger spinner, executing variations isn’t easy, but the work I put in behind the scenes really pays off,” he said. Reflecting on his caught-and-bowled dismissal, Ghazanfar added that he committed to his best delivery despite the risk of conceding a six.
Dubai Capitals captain Mohammad Nabi admitted his side fell short with the bat. “We didn’t put enough runs on the board on this surface, and credit to the MI Emirates — they bowled very well,” he said. “As a bowling unit, we gave it our best, but Pollard took the game away from us. The conditions in Dubai suit us, and hopefully we can bounce back with a strong performance in the next match.”
Fans across Afghanistan can watch the next ILT20 match (Qualifier 1 between MI Emirates and Desert Vipers) live on Ariana Television from 7pm on Tuesday.
England batter Jordan Cox struck an unbeaten 61 as defending champions Dubai Capitals secured a six-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriorz to book their place in the International League T20 play-offs.
Cox’s 50-ball knock included six boundaries and a six, helping Capitals chase down a target of 135 with five deliveries remaining. Opener Shayan Jahangir also played a key role, scoring 51 from 39 balls.
Jahangir and Mohammad Nabi were both removed by Sikandar Raza, while Leus du Plooy departed cheaply, leaving Capitals at 114-4 in the 18th over. Cox then took charge to guide his team to victory.
Earlier, Sharjah Warriorz posted 134-8 from their allotted 20 overs, with West Indies batter Johnson Charles top-scoring with 43.
The Warriorz remain in contention for the final play-off spot alongside Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Meanwhile, Dubai Capitals can still finish second in the standings, giving them two opportunities to qualify for the final on 4 January.
Cricket fans across Afghanistan can watch the next ILT20 match between Sharjah Warriorz and Desert Vipers on Ariana Television tomorrow, Friday, December 26, from 7pm.
International Sports
Ariana News to broadcast key AFC Champions League Two clash
The match will be played in Riyadh, where Al-Nassr will aim to make home advantage count following their strong performances earlier in the campaign.
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr will take on Iraq’s Al-Zawraa in a crucial AFC Champions League Two group-stage encounter tomorrow, Wednesday December 24, as both sides look to strengthen their positions in the competition.
The match will be played in Riyadh, where Al-Nassr will aim to make home advantage count following their strong performances earlier in the campaign.
With a squad packed with international stars and attacking depth, the Saudi club will be targeting another positive result to move closer to qualification for the knockout stages.
Al-Zawraa, one of Iraq’s most successful clubs, arrive determined to bounce back and keep their continental hopes alive.
Known for their discipline and resilience, the Baghdad-based side will be looking to frustrate the hosts and capitalize on any opportunities on the counterattack.
The encounter is expected to draw significant attention from football fans across the region, as the AFC Champions League Two continues to showcase competitive clashes between leading clubs.
The match will be broadcast across Afghanistan live and exclusively on Ariana News from 8:30pm.
The Dubai Capitals secured a crucial six-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday, climbing to second place in the ILT20 standings and handing the Giants a fourth straight defeat.
Mustafizur Rahman starred with the ball, taking three wickets in a decisive over to help restrict the Giants to 156 all out, despite solid knocks from Azmatullah Omarzai (43) and James Vince (36).
In reply, Shayan Jahangir’s steady 48 and an unbeaten 47 from Rovman Powell guided the Capitals to victory with four balls to spare. Mohammad Nabi added a quick 25 not out to seal the chase.
In Dubai, MI Emirates continued their strong form with a composed four-wicket win over table-toppers Desert Vipers, registering their third consecutive victory of the season.
Shakib Al Hasan delivered an outstanding all-round performance, claiming 2 for 14 to limit the Vipers to 124 before anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 17. Kieron Pollard’s brisk 26 swung the momentum decisively as MI Emirates reached the target with 15 balls remaining.
Cricket fans across Afghanistan can watch the next ILT20 match between Sharjah Warriorz and MI Emirates on Ariana Television today, Monday, December 22, from 2pm.
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