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Gurbaz century helps Afghanistan beat Ireland in first ODI

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Afghanistan beat Ireland by 35 runs in their opening one-day international at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz posted his sixth one-day international century as Afghanistan eased to a 35-run win over Ireland.

Put into bat, Afghanistan posted 310-5 in their 50 overs with Ibrahim Zadran making 60 in an opening partnership of 150 with Gurbaz who made 121.

Ireland slipped to 34-3 before Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker added 173 for the fourth wicket. Tector went on to make 138, his fifth ODI hundred, but as wickets fell at the other end, Ireland could only reach 275-8.

The night belonged to the 22-year-old Gurbaz, however, whose first ODI century came on debut against Ireland in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

He settled in quickly, striking eight fours and six sixes from his 117 balls. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Quentin de Kock have scored more men’s ODI hundreds before turning 23 than Gurbaz.

Down the order Mohammad Nabi clubbed 40 from 27 balls before skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi helped himself to an unbeaten 50 from 33 balls as 95 runs coming in the final 10 overs.

Theo van Woerkom was the pick of the Irish bowlers taking 3-55 from his 10 overs, including both openers, a lovely arm ball accounting for Gurbaz.

Ireland’s reply was quickly in trouble as captain Paul Stirling feathered a ball from Azmatullah Omarzai to the wicketkeeper.

He was quickly followed by Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher who were both bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi to leave Ireland on 34-3 at the start of the eleventh over.

That brought together Tector and Tucker who gave Ireland real hopes of a surprise win.

Tector was outstanding, lacing the ball through the covers and nullifying the spinners although he survived a chance on 79 when Gulbadin Naib dropped a sharp return catch.

His 100 came from 117 balls and, in spite of feeling a bit of cramp and seeing his partners depart at the other end, continued on to 138 before a tired shot in the last over saw his end.

Tucker also enjoyed himself, going to his 50 with a mighty six off Noor Ahmed which flew out of the ground and landed in the road outside, much to the bemusement of a passing pedestrian.

His 85 came off 76 balls, the last of which found the edge to give Farooqi his third wicket. He would finish with 4-51 while 16-year-old debutant Allah Ghazanfar took 0-34 from his six overs.

Tector and Tucker were the only Irish batsmen to reach double figures and once Tucker was gone the innings subsided.

The second ODI will take place at the same venue on Saturday.

The teams will also play three T20Is as part of the build-up for the World Cup in the West Indies and USA which starts in June.

Ireland won the one-off Test last week, their first ever in the longest format of the game.

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Afghanistan, Uzbekistan set for friendly cricket clash in Khost

The match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.

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The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced that it will host Uzbekistan’s national cricket team for a one-off T20 international on July 10 at the Rahmat Wali Masroori Cricket Ground in Khost province.

According to the ACB, the match will be played during a cricket league, and is part of the Cricket Development Support Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the ACB and the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan in December last year.

The friendly match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, with an Afghan XI taking on the visiting Uzbek side. The game will be broadcast live across Afghanistan and internationally through various linear and digital platforms.

Quoted by the ACB, Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan said the board remains committed to supporting emerging cricket nations such as Uzbekistan and is ready to extend similar assistance to other countries seeking to develop the sport.

He noted that the ACB has already organized capacity-building programs and training workshops for members of the Cricket Federation of Uzbekistan, while several Uzbek fast bowlers also participated in the ACB’s specialized Fast Bowling Camp last year.

Khan added that Uzbekistan has consistently maintained a friendly policy toward Afghanistan and that the two countries have strengthened cooperation in healthcare, politics, and trade in recent years. He said closer collaboration in cricket development would further deepen relations between the two neighboring nations.

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Serbian Dejan Dedovic appointed head coach of Afghanistan national futsal team

Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.

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The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has appointed Serbian coach Dejan Dedovic as the new head coach of the national futsal team on a two-year contract.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by AFF officials, futsal committee members, technical staff, and sports journalists.

Dedovic will lead Afghanistan’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions, overseeing the team’s technical development and training programs.

The federation also announced several additions to the national team’s coaching staff. Iran’s Javad Asghari Moqaddam has been appointed technical director, while Morteza Mansour Samaei will serve as goalkeeping coach. Spain’s Uriel Masana has joined as assistant coach, Iran’s Sadeq Amani as fitness coach, and Brazil’s Joao Lira as team analyst.

In addition, the AFF renewed the contract of Mohammad Nasir Sedaqat as manager of the national futsal team.

The federation said it expects the newly assembled coaching staff to contribute to the continued development of Afghan futsal and strengthen the team’s competitiveness at the regional and international levels.

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India clinch ODI series against Afghanistan

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The India national cricket team defeated Afghanistan in the third and final One Day International (ODI), sealing the series with a 9-wicket victory and lifting the series trophy.

Afghanistan won the toss in the final match and opted to bat first.

Batting first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 218 in 44.2 overs, setting India a target of 219 runs.

Hashmatullah Shahidi played a superb innings, scoring 102 runs off 131 deliveries, anchoring the Afghan batting effort.

In reply, India made light work of the chase, reaching 219 for the loss of just one wicket in 28.4 overs, completing a dominant run chase.

India had already taken an unassailable lead in the series by winning the first ODI by 7 wickets and the second by 170 runs, before sealing a comprehensive 3–0 series sweep in the final match.

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