Sport
Good News! ATN secures exclusive rights to broadcast ILT20 live in Afghanistan
It’s another round of good news from Ariana Television Network as this time, the cash-rich International League T20 (ILT20) 2024 will be broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television.
The much-awaited league gets underway on Friday, January 19, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the opening clash will see defending champions Gulf Giants take on Sharjah Warriors.
The 34-match ILT20 tournament, now in its second season, brings a touch of pizazz to the cricket league arena with all its prizes up from grabs.
For starters the winning team will walk away with $700,000 after a glittering trophy ceremony on Saturday, 17 February, while the losing finalists will get $300,000.
In addition, the tournament’s very own and unique belts for individual award winners will be up for grabs once again plus a $15,000 prize per individual award.
The best batter will be awarded the Green Belt, which was won last year by Desert Vipers’ opener Alex Hales. He will no doubt be aiming, this year, to add the belt once again to his collection.
Gulf Giants’ fast bowler Chris Jordan won both the White and Red Belts last season (best bowler and most valuable player awards) while the Blue Belt was collected by UAE captain Muhammad Waseem who plays for MI Emirates.
The Blue Belt can only be awarded to a UAE player, which the ILT20 decided to hand out to motivate and reward their local players in front of a global audience.
In addition to these belts, the player of the match award winners for each of the 34 games will get $1,500.
Build-up to the event
ILT20 organizers pulled out all the stops in the past two weeks in the build up to the tournament by hosting events across the UAE.
For fans in the country, the Dubai Mall, Mall of Emirates, Zahia Mall in Sharjah, and Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi were key venues where the iconic trophy was on display and where meet and greet sessions with cricket legends were held.
ILT20 Broadcasts
Fans across Afghanistan can tune in to watch this thrilling event that will be brought to you live and exclusively by Ariana Television Network. The first match will be broadcast from 6pm on Friday, but watch this space for news and further updates.
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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