Sport

India out to turn tables on World Cup nemesis New Zealand in crunch clash

Published

2 years ago

October 22, 2023

India and New Zealand meet in a top-of-the-table blockbuster as the only undefeated teams remaining in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 on Sunday at the HPCA Stadium, in Dharamsala.

India face New Zealand with more on the line than just overturning a poor past record against their World Cup nemesis.

The two standouts of the Cricket World Cup so far sit at the top of table with four wins from four matches, and both will be out to put more distance on the chasing pack while stretching their own winning streak.

New Zealand have something of a stronghold over India in the showpiece event, with a 5-3 advantage at past tournaments and famously won their most recent Cricket World Cup clash to book a spot in the Final in 2019.

But India can look to brush aside any previous encounters after making a bright start to the Cricket World Cup on home soil that has included emphatic victories over rivals Pakistan and five-time champions Australia.

The hosts will be forced to make at least one change with all-rounder Hardik Pandya set to miss the high-stakes clash after rolling an ankle against Bangladesh, while New Zealand will again be without captain Kane Williamson.

Tom Latham has proved to be a more than capable stand-in skipper and can be relied on to make runs with a pair of fifties from his only two knocks so far at the event. Devon Conway has also amassed plenty of runs (249) for New Zealand to be the fourth-highest scorer at the tournament.

But India have two batters ahead of the New Zealand dynamo, with Rohit Sharma (265) and Virat Kohli (259) showing the sort of imperious form that should ensure this heavyweight clash lives up to the top-billing.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (vc), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

Key Players
India – Mohammed Siraj
The India pacer has had a solid but not spectacular start to the Cricket World Cup and now needs to step up in the absence of injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

While Jasprit Bumrah has made a stirring impact since returning to the attack and has 10 wickets at the tournament, Siraj has played more of a support role with five scalps.

India spinner hails pace attack as key to fast start
India have still been able to dismiss 36 batters in four innings so far, but the concern for Siraj is that he has also leaked runs at 6.32 an over. This has included 0/76 from nine overs against Afghanistan and 2/50 from eight overs against Pakistan.

The No.3 bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings is likely to be targeted again by the dynamic New Zealand top order, but if he can rise to the occasion in the typically swing-friendly conditions in Dharamsala then India will be well-placed to claim a rousing victory.

New Zealand – Trent Boult
The New Zealand veteran looms as India’s greatest threat in favorable conditions for pacers in Dharamsala.

India are well aware of the damage Boult can do after the evergreen left-armer and fellow quick Matt Henry tore through their top order in the Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-final to all but end the chase before it began.

The consistent Boult has performed at his usual high level at the Cricket World Cup and has five wickets while giving up only 4.14 runs an over to be one of the tidiest bowlers so far.

While the focus on India decks often turns to spin, Boult is within one rating point of top spot in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings for a reason and is likely to have a say on the outcome of this top-of-the-table clash.

For fans in Afghanistan

Ariana Television Network is the official broadcasting partner in Afghanistan and has the exclusive rights to broadcast and stream Cricket World Cup 2023 matches into the homes of fans, live, each day.

As we fight the global quest to Stop Piracy, we appeal to our fans in Afghanistan to tune in to Ariana Television or visit www.arianatelevision.com, and stream matches live.

Please don’t support pirate broadcasters and websites streaming pirated versions!

Afghanistan’s fixtures still to come, that will be broadcast live on Ariana Television are as follows:

Afghanistan’s fixtures are as follows?

• Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Monday, October 23, 2023, Chennai
• Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: Monday, October 30, 2023, Pune
• Afghanistan vs Netherlands: Friday, November 3, 2023, Lucknow
• Afghanistan vs Australia: Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Mumbai
• Afghanistan vs South Africa: Friday, November 10, 2023, Ahmedabad

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IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians crush Delhi Capitals to secure playoffs berth

Published

22 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Ariana News

Mumbai Indians stormed into the IPL playoffs with a commanding 59-run victory over Delhi Capitals at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night.

Suryakumar Yadav was the star of the show, crafting a masterful 73 from 43 balls, pushing MI to 180-5.

Though Delhi’s bowlers held control for most of the innings, costly final overs from Mukesh Kumar and Dushmantha Chameera saw MI add 48 runs in a dramatic finish.

During the chase, Delhi never found rhythm, crumbling to 121 all out in just 18.2 overs.

Mitchell Santner’s superb spell (3-11) and Jasprit Bumrah’s expert variations (3-12) led the charge, ensuring a ruthless finish.

MI’s playoff spot is now secured, while Delhi exits the tournament.

MI join Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings in the playoffs but there is still room for manoeuvre amidst the top four with just two points separating the teams and a coveted top-two place still available to them all.

Fans can tune in to watch today’s (Thursday May 22) match which will see Gujarat Titans take on Lucknow Super Giants at 6.30pm.

Sport

FIFA Club WC: LAFC and Club América to clash on May 31 for final berth

Published

2 days ago

May 21, 2025

Ariana News

The last FIFA Club World Cup 2025 place will be decided at BMO Stadium when the Concacaf rivals meet in a play-in match.

The final club to qualify for the highly-anticipated FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be determined on Saturday, 31 May, when US side Los Angeles FC and Mexican powerhouse Club América go head-to-head in a high-stakes match at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

Following the recent Court of Arbitration for Sport decisions, FIFA decided that the final club to be admitted to the tournament will be determined by a play-in match between Los Angeles FC (the runners-up to Club León in the 2023 Concacaf Champions League) and Club América (the top-ranked team in the FIFA Club

World Cup confederation ranking at the conclusion of the Concacaf Champions Cup staged in 2024, the final year of the qualifying period for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025).

In the event that the match is level after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time, with an interval of five minutes, will be contested. If the score is still level at the end of extra time, the winners will be determined by a penalty shoot-out.

The winners of the play-in will claim the final spot at this year’s global club showpiece and will take their place in Group D alongside Brazil’s CR Flamengo, Tunisian outfit Espérance and English side Chelsea FC.

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will bring together 32 elite teams from all six confederations, with the action set to kick off at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, 14 June.

A total of 63 matches will take place across 11 Host Cities – Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. – culminating in what promises to be a spectacular final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, 13 July, when the FIFA club world champions will be crowned.

The final spot in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is still open because Club León was disqualified due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

This decision follows a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which dismissed appeals from León and other clubs attempting to challenge their exclusion.

Sport

From underdogs to global contenders: Afghanistan’s futsal rise

Published

3 days ago

May 20, 2025

Ariana News

Afghanistan’s national futsal team has been making waves on the global stage in the past few years, proving that resilience and talent can overcome even the toughest challenges.

Their journey from underdogs on the global platform to serious contenders has been nothing short of inspiring.

In line with this, Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) has remained committed to helping develop the sport in the country and will once again produce and broadcast Afghanistan Futsal Premier League Season 4, which is scheduled to kick off on June 6 and end on August 12.

Ten teams will take part in this year’s tournament, playing a total of 90 matches in a round-robin format.

While the start of the tournament is still more than two weeks away, anticipation is growing.

First up however is Saturday’s tournament draw which will be broadcast live on Ariana Television and Ariana News from 3pm.

Growing interest

In September 2024, Afghanistan made history by competing in their first-ever Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.

They faced top teams like Argentina, Paraguay, and Ukraine, securing a thrilling 6-4 victory over Angola before narrowly losing to Argentina 2-1 and Ukraine 4-1.

Despite these setbacks, they advanced to the round of 16, where they fought hard against Paraguay but were eliminated 3-1 after extra time.

Their performance ignited national pride and inspired young athletes across the country.

More recently, in April 2025, Afghanistan continued to impress at the Copa BETesporte Intercontinental de Seleções in Brazil and a four-nation tournament in Morocco.

They battled world-class opponents, earning critical wins and proving their ability to compete at the highest level.

Their matches against Brazil and Iran showcased their discipline and determination, while their victories over Greenland highlighted their growing consistency.

Despite limited resources and infrastructure, Afghanistan’s futsal team has demonstrated remarkable progress and their success is a testament to the passion and dedication of their players, coaches, and supporters.

As they continue to rise, they are not just making a name for themselves in futsal but also bringing hope and pride to their nation.

Domestic tournaments key to growing futsal arena

Domestic tournaments, meanwhile, play a crucial role in Afghanistan’s futsal landscape, serving as a platform for talent development, national pride, and international recognition.

In line with this, ATN is committed to supporting the team on its journey to success, and tournaments like the Afghanistan Futsal Premier League provide young players with opportunities to showcase their skills and gain professional experience.

Fan Zone

The games will be held at the Afghanistan Football Federation Futsal Committee Gymnasium.

Two matches will take place each day – both of which will be broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

Fans meanwhile can tune in to Ariana Television and Ariana News at 3pm on Saturday for what will undoubtedly be an exciting tournament draw.