Sport

Gulf Giants prevail over Knight Riders by three runs to confirm Qualifier 1 berth against MI Emirates

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2024

Gulf Giants pulled off a hard-fought three-runs win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the 28th match of the DP World ILT20 season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday and secured their spot in the Qualifier 1 against MI Emirates.

Their skipper James Vince’s knock of 50 in 39 balls with five boundaries and a six, Jordan Cox’s 57 runs off 38 balls with two boundaries and four sixes, and their 103 opening partnership backed by Shimron Hetmyer’s unbeaten 39 off 27 balls with five boundaries gave them a total of 166 for 3 in 20 overs.

Earlier, second-placed Gulf Giants won the toss and elected to bat against the third-placed Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

Giants skipper and consistent scorer, James Vince said after the match: “The last four games have been magnificent. The last two games, we were in the game. They were ahead in the game, we showed a lot of character to fight back.”

Player of the Match, Jamie Overton, explained in length how he bowled: “In T20, it’s hard (to keep the cool). You just back what you are doing. We try to be unpredictable with our lengths. The wicket was slow at times. Some stopped a little bit, some skidded through. Back end, you are going to get hit, you just got to keep backing yourself.”

He hailed UAE spinners Aayan Khan and Zuhaib Zubair too saying: “They have been phenomenal, holding those middle overs and picking crucial wickets.”

Dubai Capitals inch closer to Qualifier berth

In the second match of the day Saturday, Dubai Capitals pulled off an impressive 19-run victory against MI Emirates at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to register their fifth victory of the competition.

With this result, Desert Vipers are no longer in the race for a position in the play-offs while Dubai Capitals put themselves in a very good position to join the MI Emirates, Gulf Giants and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

However, their fate relies on Sunday’s match between Sharjah Warriors and Desert Vipers.

The Dubai Capitals were mediocre with the bat besides the top order performances from Max Holden who scored 51 runs in just 33 deliveries and Tom Banton who contributed with a score of 37 runs.

The standout performance for the Dubai Capitals were their spinners who wove an intricate web around the MI Emirates batsmen.

However, MI Emirates bowling unit excelled. They were led by stellar spells from Dan Mousley (2/22) and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (2/23). Andre Fletcher played a brave innings of 45 runs, but it was to no avail due to the lack of support.

Invited to bat first, the Dubai Capitals illuminated the stadium early on with openers Tom Banton and Max Holden unleashing an array of strokes that led to nine boundaries in the first four overs including Holden cracking Dwayne Bravo for three consecutive boundaries in the fourth over.

The introduction of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dan Mousley into the bowling attack helped stem the flow of runs, however, Capitals were in a commanding position of 57/0 by the end of the powerplay.

Following the match a delighted Sam Billings, captain of the Dubai Capitals, spoke on the team’s approach to the powerplay and the pitch conditions.

He said, “If you look at this tournament, it is about trends. The key area where we have struggled is the powerplay. We are glad that Holden did well today, and Tom Banton also played his part. In different parts of the world, you can score 12-13 per over. But here holding one end up is vital.”

He further commended his bowlers. “Everyone wants the ball and that is always a positive. Zahir Khan came off the plane today morning and did very well for us as well.”

Meanwhile, a disappointed MI Emirates skipper, Keiron Pollard said after the match: “In terms of points and placement in the table, the result is not significant. However, winning is a habit and so is losing.

“Not being able to chase it down has nothing to do with the conditions. It was the sort of total where we needed to bat deep. One or two big overs would have broken the back of the match. Going forward we need to try and plan well. It is a matter of planning and execution.”

Related Topics:#GulfGiants Cricket featured ILT20

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Rashid Khan plans to build cricket academy and stadium in Nangarhar

Published

19 hours ago

October 3, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan national cricket team player and Afghan Wireless Brand Ambassador Rashid Khan says he plans to establish a major cricket academy and a stadium in eastern Nangarhar province.

Rashid Khan made the remarks at a press conference held at the AWCC office in eastern Afghanistan.

He said building a well-equipped cricket ground and a large academy in Nangarhar is one of his plans and that he intends to begin the project after completing his other commitments.

“It is my dream to have a good cricket ground in my home province, Nangarhar. I have it in mind. Once I am done with my other work, I will undertake the construction of a large academy and a cricket ground in Nangarhar,” Rashid Khan said.

Rashid Khan also said his biggest dream is to help Afghanistan win the Cricket World Cup.

“My biggest dream is for us to win the World Cup for Afghanistan. It would be a great honor for us,” he said.

Meanwhile, AWCC officials in the east thanked Rashid Khan for his cooperation with the company and for choosing Afghan Wireless as his commercial partner.

Ataullah Sahel, head of AWCC in the eastern zone, said: “Rashid Khan has been the brand ambassador of Afghan Wireless for about two or two and a half years. It was the dream of Afghan Wireless leadership and employees to have national player Rashid Khan as our brand ambassador.”

The head of Nangarhar’s Telecommunications and Information Technology Department, the head of ATRA in the eastern zone and ACB officials also attended the meeting.

Sport

Abu Muslim cruise to 4-0 win over Aino Mina as Panahi hits hat-trick

Abu Muslim Farah will face Arman FC on October 5, while Aino Mina Kandahar will take on Istiqlal Kabul on October 6.

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2026

Ariana News

Abu Muslim Farah produced an impressive performance to beat Aino Mina Kandahar 4-0 in the 34th match of the sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan in Kabul on Friday.

Alireza Panahi opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a close-range finish before doubling Abu Muslim Farah’s lead six minutes later. The Farah-based side went into halftime with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.

Abu Muslim Farah continued to dominate after the break, with captain Sharif Mohammad extending the lead in the 79th minute with a stunning long-range free kick.

Panahi completed his hat-trick late in the match, scoring Abu Muslim Farah’s fourth goal and sealing a convincing 4-0 victory.

Aino Mina Kandahar were unable to find the back of the net in either half.

Abu Muslim Farah will face Arman FC on October 5, while Aino Mina Kandahar will take on Istiqlal Kabul on October 6.

The sixth season of Afghanistan Champions League Roshan is being broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television Network.

Sport

ACB announces Afghanistan squads for Bangladesh, Zimbabwe series

For cricket fans across Afghanistan, Ariana Television Network (ATN) will broadcast all these series live and exclusively.

Published

2 days ago

October 2, 2026

Ariana News

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced Afghanistan’s Test, ODI and T20I squads for a busy international schedule against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan will face Bangladesh in a one-off Test from October 9 to 13 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The match will be followed by an ODI Tri-Nation Series featuring Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, scheduled for October 17 to 23.

The first two matches of the tri-series will be played in Abu Dhabi, while the remaining two matches will take place in Sharjah.

Afghanistan will then play a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe on October 27, October 29 and November 1, followed by a two-match Test series from November 5 to 9 and November 13 to 17. All five matches will be played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Rahmat Shah will lead Afghanistan in both Test and ODI cricket after recently being appointed captain in the two formats. He guided Afghanistan to a 4-0 ODI series victory over Ireland in August. The upcoming Test against Bangladesh will be his first assignment as Afghanistan’s full-time Test captain.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Ismat Alam returns to the Test squad after missing the recent Test against India. Middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal and fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai have also been recalled following strong performances in the ongoing Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament.

Shahidullah has scored 538 runs at an average of 76.85, while Yamin has taken 42 wickets at an average of 12.73, with both currently leading the respective batting and bowling charts in the tournament.

Experienced left-arm spinner Zia Ur Rahman Akbar also returns to the Test squad after being sidelined by injury for almost a year. Leg-spinner Khalil Gurbaz, who was part of Afghanistan’s Test squad for the Ireland Test in 2024, has also been recalled.

Rashid Khan and Ibrahim Zadran remain rested from Test cricket following medical advice against their participation in the longer format at this stage.

In white-ball cricket, middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli has been left out of both the ODI and T20I squads, while Mohammad Nabi has been omitted from the T20I squad.

Mohammad Akram, who recently made his T20I debut at the 2026 Asian Games, has earned a place in the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series. Young fast-bowling all-rounder Abdullah Tarakhil has also been rewarded for his performances in the 11th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League.

Ijaz Ahmadzai and Shahidullah Kamal have also been recalled to the T20I squad, while Fareed Ahmad Malik, who was among the reserves for Afghanistan’s recent T20I series against India, has been promoted to the main 15-member squad.

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan said Test cricket remains a major priority for Afghanistan and described the upcoming matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as important opportunities for the team, particularly its emerging players, to gain experience in the longer format.

He also said the ODI Tri-Nation Series will form part of Afghanistan’s preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, while emphasizing the ACB’s commitment to providing the national team with regular, high-quality international cricket.

Afghanistan Test squad

Rahmat Shah (Captain), Ikram Alikhil (Vice-Captain & WK), Afsar Zazai (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Abdul Malik, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmanullah Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Qais Ahmad, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Khalil Gurbaz, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Yamin Ahmadzai.

Reserves: Baheer Shah Mahboob, Naseer Khan Maroofkhil, Bilal Sami, Bashir Ahmad.

Afghanistan ODI squad

Rahmat Shah (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Vice-Captain & WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyalai Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Yamin Ahmadzai.

Travelling reserve: Qais Ahmad.

Afghanistan T20I squad

Ibrahim Zadran (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Akram, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdullah Tarakhil, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Farid Ahmad Malik.

Reserves: Faridoon Dawoodzai, Qais Ahmad, Nangyalai Khan.