Sport
India beat Afghanistan by 47 runs in Super 8 match of T20 World Cup
Fast bowler Bumrah proved virtually unplayable, taking three for seven runs from his four overs.

India swept to a 47-run victory over Afghanistan in their T20 World Cup Super Eight clash after Suryakumar Yadav struck his second successive half-century and Jasprit Bumrah proved his worth with the ball on Thursday.
Player-of-the-match Suryakumar’s audacious 53 from 28 balls propelled India to a daunting 181-8. In reply, Afghanistan were always behind the required run rate and finished on 134 all out from the final ball of the match, Reuters reported.
Fast bowler Bumrah proved virtually unplayable, taking three for seven runs from his four overs.
Afghanistan left-arm paceman Fazalhaq Farooqi and off-spinner Mohammad Nabi opened the bowling on a hot, humid day at Kensington Oval.
India captain Rohit Sharma survived an impassioned appeal for lbw off Farooqi when he missed with an ungainly heave to the leg side but he lasted only five balls more before skying a catch to Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan at mid-on to be out for eight.
Naveen-ul-Haq replaced Farooqi and Virat Kohli, who had scored only five runs in his previous three matches, whipped him imperiously through the covers and lofted a six straight over the bowler’s head which hit the sight screen.
Rishabh Pant reverse swept Nabi for four and was then dropped on the boundary by Naveen. The ball crossed the boundary and at the end of the powerplay India were 47 for one.
Rashid took the ball and struck in his first over, dismissing Pant for 20 with his final delivery, lbw attempting a reverse sweep.
He struck again in his second over when Kohli on 24 lofted the ball straight to Nabi on the long-off boundary and then dismissed Shivam Dube lbw for 10.
Suryakumar seized the initiative back for India with two boundaries off Azmatullah Omarzai and a straight six.
Hardik Pandya (32) joined in with a four and a straight six off successive balls from Noor Ahmed.
The pair raised their 50 partnership before Suryakumar was caught but Hardik hit a six on to the top of the Terrace Stand to maintain India’s momentum.
Afghanistan lost three wickets in the powerplay, including opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught behind for 11 off Bumrah who also dismissed Hazratullah Zazai for two.
They fell steadily behind the required run and still needed 81 off five overs when Bumrah returned.
He struck immediately by dismissing Najibullah Zadran caught for 19 to quash any Afghanistan hopes of an unlikely victory.
“We adapted well and got 180 which was a great effort from the bowlers,” Rohit said as India remained unbeaten in the tournament.
“We had class bowlers who defended it perfectly. We know Bumrah’s class and what he can do.”
Related stories:
West Indies beat Afghanistan in final group game
Afghanistan down PNG to reach Super Eight, end NZ hopes
Sport
Ariana Snooker Championship 2025: Naderi and Hotak through to final

Ariana Snooker Championship semi-finals wrapped up on Sunday with Naveed Naderi and Raees Khan Hotak both moving on to the final on Monday.
In the first semi-final on Sunday, Naveed Naderi, who is ranked number 2 in Afghanistan, beat Zulmai Salamkhil 5-3.
Later in the day, Raees Khan Hotak, who is ranked number 4 in Afghanistan, defeated Nader Khan Rohani 5-4 in a fiercely contested match.
Hotak, who at 42 years of age, has over 40 domestic tournaments under his belt and has played in 30 international matches.
Naderi is 32 years old and while not as experienced as Hotak, he does have 35 domestic games to his name. He has also played in one international event.
Both players however have their eye on the title. Their match will get underway at 4pm Kabul time on Monday.
Snooker enthusiasts across Afghanistan can watch the exciting final on Monday live on Ariana Television, the Ariana Sports Facebook page, the Ariana Sports YouTube channel, and the Ariana Television website.
The match will start at 4pm but a preview show will be broadcast from 3pm. Stay tuned!
Sport
Mujeeb Ur Rahman replaces injured Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ squad for IPL 2025
Mujeeb had gone unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, but now joined MI at a fee of INR 2 crore ($230,000).

Afghanistan offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has replaced his countryman AM Ghazanfar in Mumbai Indians’ (MI) squad for IPL 2025 after an injured Ghazanfar was ruled out of the Champions Trophy, and the IPL that follows.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said recently that Ghazanfar had been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a fractured vertebra sustained during Afghanistan’s tour of Zimbabwe last month.
Ghazanfar, who will be out of cricket for at least four months, will also miss out on IPL this year, his first contract with the league.
Mujeeb meanwhile last played at the IPL in 2021, for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Most recently, he was with Paarl Royals at the SA20, where his side lost to finalists Sunrisers Eastern Cape in Qualifier 2. However, he was Royals’ highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 14 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 23.14.
He wasn’t picked by Afghanistan for the Champions Trophy, as according to Ahmad Suliman Khil, their interim chief selector, “he has been advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while to ensure his full recovery before returning to ODIs”.
This was after he sustained a hand injury that left him out of cricket for five months. Only in November last year was he able to return.
Mujeeb had gone unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, but now joined MI at a fee of INR 2 crore ($230,000).
The ICC Champions Trophy gets underway on Wednesday, February 19, in Pakistan when the hosts take on New Zealand. Afghanistan will play their first match on Friday, February 21, when they take on South Africa.
IPL will start on Friday, March 21 and run through to Sunday May 25.
Cricket fans meanwhile can stay tuned with Ariana Radio & Television Network (ATN) as all Champions Trophy matches will be broadcast live across the country.
Sport
Ariana Snooker Championship 2025: Quarterfinals conclude with thrilling matches

Zulmai Salamkhil clinched a 5-3 victory over Zarif Afzali in a gripping quarterfinal match on Saturday, securing his spot in the semifinals of the Ariana Snooker Championship.
In another electrifying encounter, Naweed Naderi edged out Mohammad Mir Noorzai 5-4, advancing to the semifinals after a fiercely contested game.
The day wrapped up with Nader Rohani delivering a dominant 5-1 win against Saleh Mohammad Mohammadi, solidifying his place in the semifinals.
Snooker enthusiasts across Afghanistan can watch the exciting semifinal matches, starting this Sunday, live on Ariana Television, the Ariana Sports Facebook page, the Ariana Sports YouTube channel, and the Ariana Television website. Stay tuned!
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