Sport
Late drama as Lucknow edge Delhi Capitals in IPL thriller
A thrilling contest in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, April 1, saw Lucknow Super Giants clinch a narrow victory over Delhi Capitals in a low-scoring encounter.
Lucknow posted a modest total of 141 after being bowled out inside 19 overs, with key contributions coming from Abdul Samad and Mitchell Marsh, who steadied the innings. Delhi’s bowlers, led by Thangarasu Natarajan and Lungi Ngidi, kept things tight and ensured the target remained within reach.
In response, Delhi appeared on course for victory but faltered under pressure in the closing stages. Despite a composed chase, they fell just short, handing Lucknow a dramatic win by the narrowest of margins of just 2 runs. The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where momentum can shift rapidly in the final overs.
Kolkata take on Hyderabad
Attention now turns to Thursday’s clash, where Kolkata Knight Riders will face Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kolkata will be looking to build momentum early in the tournament with a balanced squad featuring both experienced campaigners and exciting young talent. Hyderabad, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back strongly, relying on their powerful batting line-up and disciplined bowling attack.
With both teams eager to secure crucial early points, fans can expect another closely fought contest.
The IPL continues to draw massive global audiences, and fans in Afghanistan can follow all the action live. Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country.
Matches are being aired live on Ariana Television, bringing every moment of the IPL directly to viewers. Fans are also encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, highlights and match coverage throughout the tournament.
Afghanistan’s cricket stars Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai have maintained their positions at the top of the latest ICC Men’s ODI rankings.
Rashid Khan remains the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world with 714 rating points.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed is second with 675 points, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has moved up to third with 667 points.
New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner is fourth with 644 points, followed by India’s Kuldeep Yadav on 623.
Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai continues to hold the top position in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings with 337 points, giving Afghanistan two players at No. 1 in different ODI categories. Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh follow him in the list.
Abu Muslim Farah beat Omar Zawak Herat 4-0 in the 30th match of the sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League, delivering an impressive performance.
The match was played today (Wednesday) at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.
Samiullah Naderi scored Abu Muslim Farah’s opening goal in the final minutes of the first half.
Abu Muslim Farah continued their attacking play in the second half, with Aman Sardari scoring the team’s second goal in the 69th minute with a spectacular header.
Omid Rajabi and Mirois Ghafouri then added two more goals to complete a 4-0 victory for Abu Muslim Farah.
Amanullah Sardari, captain of Abu Muslim Farah, was named Player of the Match against Omar Zawak Herat.
Abu Muslim Farah will face Ariana Khost in their next match on October 2, while Omar Zawak Herat will take on Istiqlal Kabul on the same day.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s High Performance Center is set to launch a nationwide fast-bowling talent identification program, titled “Afghan Thunder,” across several provinces throughout October.
According to the ACB, the program will begin in Kunduz on October 4, with assessments continuing in Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, Khost, Paktia and Kunar before concluding in Nangarhar on October 27.
The board says eligible participants must be between 19 and 26 years old, at least 180 centimeters tall, hold a valid electronic National ID (e-Tazkira) and be capable of bowling at speeds of at least 140 kilometers per hour.
The assessment schedule is as follows: Kunduz on October 4–5, Herat on October 9–10, Kandahar on October 12, Kabul on October 14–15, Khost on October 19, Paktia on October 21, Kunar on October 25 and Nangarhar on October 27.
The ACB has encouraged eligible players who believe they have the potential to develop into high-level fast bowlers to take part in the Afghan Thunder Fast-Bowling Talent Hunt Program on the designated dates.
The board says the initiative aims to identify promising fast-bowling talent from across Afghanistan and provide talented players with a pathway into the country’s high-performance cricket system.
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