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It’s down-to-the-wire for ILT20 teams as playoffs loom

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(Last Updated On: February 7, 2023)

An intense battle of nerves and skills will be on display when the DP World International League T20 playoffs begin on Wednesday at the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE.

First up will be table toppers Gulf Giants against second placed Desert Vipers in Qualifier 1 on February 8 (Wednesday) at the Dubai International Stadium while MI Emirates challenge Dubai Capitals in the Eliminator at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on February 9 (Thursday).

No team can be assured of a victory as it hasn’t been a smooth ride for them into the playoffs with all four having tasted defeats during the course of the competition.

Gulf Giants stand tall with only one defeat against Sharjah Warriors who were eliminated in the last league round match. All others have lost over three matches.

Every team will have to produce their best to advance to the final. Given that each of the four teams have internationally acclaimed limited over cricket players, they can be expected to turn the course of the match any moment.

The DP World ILT20 with a total prize pot of $1.3 million will see the winners walk away with a whopping $700,000 while the runners-up receive $300,000.

Gulf Giants are however table toppers and their skipper James Vince leads from the front with 321 runs from eight matches at an average of 45.85.

In addition they have David Wiese, who is the highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets. The other giants in the team are strike bowlers Chris Jordan, the indomitable hard-hitter Shimron Hetmyer, and two UAE players – Sanchit Sharma and 17-year-old Ayan Khan.

Speaking about his team’s success so far, Vince said: “We play every game to try and win it. Great to see guys come in and do well. Conditions will be different for the Wednesday game, but we will approach that match in the best way possible.”

Desert Vipers however have proven that they can sting their opponents hard. They have Alex Hales, the highest run getter of the tournament so far with 465 runs and an average of 58.12, the consistent Sam Billings and bowlers Sheldon Cottrell and Wanindu Hasranga. UAE players Rohan Mustafa and Shiraz Ahmed have also performed well.

The team’s captain, Colin Munro, said: “Everyone has been unbelievable. From the background staff, going back to people in the commercial office, guys doing the media stuff, everyone that’s part of the family. We set out the tournament as a new franchise, as a new team, and we’re trying to make it to the final, and we’re on our way there.”

MI Emirates on the other hand is a mix of youth and experience and they have West Indies giant Kieron Pollard as their skipper.

He is backed by his countrymen Andre Fletcher and Nicholas Pooran who can take their team to victory on their day.

In addition there is the UAE’s pride and joy – the consistent performer and opener Muhammad Waseem, with his national teammate Zahoor Khan, while veterans Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir have encouraged everyone in the team to give their best.

When asked about the team’s approach, Pollard said: “It’s just a matter of understanding and easing the pressure on the boys in the new franchise so that they can understand their roles. We basically break it down for them. It’s a matter of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and playing exciting cricket that MI is known to play.”

Last but not least is Dubai Capitals who clinched the last spot in the playoffs, when they pulled off a seven-wicket win against MI Emirates. They have batsmen who can turn the course of the match at any time with the likes of experienced Robin Uthappa, George Munsey, Dasun Shanaka and Rovman Powell at the top. All-rounder Sikandar Raza’s contribution has also been immense.

In addition, they have UAE strike bowlers Hazrat Luqman and Akif Raja, along with Jake Ball and Fred Klaassen, who are capable of restricting any opponent.

Yusuf Pathan, who stepped in as skipper from the last match said: “It feels great to be in the playoffs. The group is confident as well. We played really well in our last match. We need to continue doing the good things we did against MI Emirates. We have played well against them in both our league stage matches.”

Match officials

The ILT20 playoffs will also witness some of the world’s most renowned match officials in action. Roshan Mahanama and Alex Wharf will be the on-field umpires for Qualifier 1, while Richard Kettleborough and Leslie Reifer will be officiating as the third and fourth umpires in the game. Meanwhile, Shiju Mannil will be the match referee for the match at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.

The Eliminator game will see Simon Taufel and Richard Kettleborough as on-field umpires. Ruchira Palliyaguruge and Martin Saggers will be the third and fourth umpires. Akbar Ali Khan will officiate as the match referee at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Roshan Mahanama and Leslie Reifer will be the on-field umpires in Qualifier 2. Martin Saggers and Alex Wharf will support them as third and fourth umpires, while Shiju Mannil will be the match referee for the game at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday.

Simon Taufel and Richard Kettleborough will take charge as on-field umpires in the final. Meanwhile, Alex Wharf and Leslie Reifer will be the third and fourth umpires. Ruchira Palliyaguruge will be the match referee for the final at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.

Cricket fans across Afghanistan can meanwhile tune in and watch the playoffs live, exclusively on Ariana Television. For the broadcasting schedule CLICK HERE

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Abu Muslim Farah FC thrashes Khurasan Faryab 6-0 in ACL match

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(Last Updated On: April 24, 2024)

Abu Muslim Farah FC thrashed Khurasan Faryab FC 6-0 in the 7th match of Afghanistan Champions League (ACL) in Kabul on Tuesday.

In the second game of the day – the 8th ACL match – Aino Mina FC beat Sarsabz Yashlar FC 4-0.

Suhrab Afghan from Abu Muslim Farah was top scorer with three goals, Amanullah Sardari scored two goals and Ahmad Khaled Majidi one goal.

Suhrab Afghan, who became the first ACL player to score three goals in one match, was named Man of the Match.

“The game was good and I was able to score three goals with the coordination of the team members,” he said after the match.

Abu Muslim Farah FC team is now sitting at the top of the table with a total of 8 goals so far.

In second position is Aino Mina FC with a total of seven goals.

Following their match against Sarsabz Yashlar FC, Ahnullah Darman was selected as Man of the Match.

“I am happy to represent the people of Kandahar in the Aino Mina team and bring happiness to my people, and I dedicate this victory and award to all the people of Kandahar, especially to my family,” said Darman after accepting the trophy.

Aino Mina FC’s goals were scored by Ahnullah Darman (2), Ahmad Nabi Moqadas (1), and Ramin Hamidi (1).

Head coach of Sarsabz Yashlar FC team shared his disappointment at the team’s loss and said he believes the reason for his team’s defeat is the lack of experienced players.

He said however, he hopes that they will shine in the upcoming matches.

Wednesday’s matches will see Sorkh Poshan Khafi take on Attack Energy FC at 1:00 PM, while Istiqlal Kabul FC face Mawj Sahil FC at 3:30 PM.

The matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television.

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‘Serious talent’ Fraser-McGurk bonds with Warner to light up IPL

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(Last Updated On: April 24, 2024)

Jake Fraser-McGurk went unsold at auction but the young Australian was snapped up by Delhi Capitals as an injury replacement and has become one of the stories of the current IPL.

The fearless 22-year-old batsman still has plenty to learn though and told AFP he is soaking up every bit of information he can from David Warner, his idol and now a team-mate in the Indian capital.

“Having him here and knowing him quite well, we have got a nice connection, got a beautiful friendship,” Fraser-McGurk said of the 37-year-old opener, one of Australia’s finest-ever batsmen.

Delhi head coach and Australia great Ricky Ponting this week described Fraser-McGurk as “a serious talent”, and there are flashes of the young Warner with his attacking approach and ease at which he hits sixes.

Last year Fraser-McGurk shattered AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest century in List A (50-over) matches, taking just 29 balls for South Australia.

None of the 10 IPL teams came in for him at December’s player auction so he joined Delhi as an injury replacement for South African paceman Lungi Ngidi — and has not looked back, AFP reported.

Fraser-McGurk’s 35-ball 55 on his debut brought instant fame in India, even if Australian cricket has long known about his potential.

“I met Davey a while back in the BBL,” said Fraser-McGurk, referring to the Big Bash League, Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Fraser-McGurk cannot talk highly enough of Warner.

“When the talk is about the game, then you understand how much experience he has and what he’s done,” he said.

“He has time for everyone, he is very unselfish and does what his team needs.”

‘Serious talent’
Fraser-McGurk has played two one-day internationals for Australia this year, hitting an 18-ball 41 in his second ODI against the West Indies.

Despite that and his IPL form, which included a 15-ball half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Fraser-McGurk is not anticipating a call-up for the T20 World Cup in June in the United States and West Indies.

He admits he forgot that the World Cup was taking place almost straight after the IPL.

“Mitch Marsh was obviously with Delhi and he said we are going to Barbados and America and all that stuff,” said Fraser-McGurk.

“I was like, ‘Are you playing there?’ and he was like, ‘No, the World Cup’.

“Obviously it’s not on the forefront of my mind.”

Ponting expects Fraser-McGurk to have a bright international future, but cautioned: “So far he is not anywhere near the finished product yet.

“I would love to be able to spend more time with him one-on-one and work on his batting,” he added.

“I think he can be a three-format player for Australia.”

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Jaiswal ton powers Rajasthan to big IPL win

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(Last Updated On: April 23, 2024)

Yashasvi Jaiswal struck form with an unbeaten 104 as Rajasthan Royals consolidated their position at the top of the IPL table with a nine-wicket thrashing of Mumbai Indians on Monday.

Medium-pace bowler Sandeep Sharma took 5-18 to help restrict Mumbai to 179-9 after Yuzvendra Chahal claimed an IPL first of 200 wickets at Rajasthan’s home ground in Jaipur.

Jaiswal, a left-handed opener whose previous best this season was 39, steered the team home in 18.4 overs in an innings interrupted by rain, AFP reported.

“I really enjoyed from the start and I made sure I was watching the ball properly and playing proper cricketing shots,” said Jaiswal.

“I’m trying to do what I am doing well, some days it comes good and some days it doesn’t, I’m not thinking much.”

Rajasthan, who won the inaugural IPL in 2008 under late Australian hero Shane Warne, registered their seventh win in eight matches

Jaiswal struck his second IPL hundred – both versus Mumbai — as he smashed nine fours and seven sixes in his 60-ball knock and put on 109 runs with skipper Sanju Samson, who made 38.

Sharma set up victory, his first ever five-wicket haul in T20 cricket as he took the spotlight away from Chahal’s remarkable feat and was named man of the match, AFP reported.

Chahal sent back Mohammad Nabi caught and bowled for 23 with his leg-spin as he celebrated the achievement with hugs from teammates.

But Chahal was taken for 48 runs in four overs and Sharma stood out after he took three wickets in the 20th over including Tilak Varma, who top-scored with 65, and Tim David, who made three.

Chahal was substituted with Jos Buttler coming in as impact player and he began with two boundaries in the opening over by skipper Hardik Pandya, who played his landmark 100th IPL match.

Pandya has endured a tough time this season after he replaced veteran Rohit Sharma as skipper only to be booed by the fans across venues.

“After the game, it’s not the right time to go to the players, everyone is professional, they know their roles,” said Pandya.

“What we can do is learn from this game and the mistakes which we have made, rectify it and make sure that we don’t repeat it.”

The left-handed Jaiswal joined in the charge as he hit South African speedster Gerald Coetzee for a six and two fours to get the chase underway.

Rajasthan raced to 61-0 in six overs when rain stopped play and action resumed after 45 minutes.

Piyush Chawla bowled Buttler for 35 after the break but Jaiswal stood firm and in the company of Samson made the chase a cakewalk.

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