Sport

MI Emirates top the table after dealing crushing blow to Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Published

4 months ago

January 29, 2024

(Last Updated On: January 29, 2024)

Muhammad Waseem scored a resounding 89 off 62 balls on Sunday in the ILT20 match against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and set MI Emirates up for a crushing 8-wicket win.

The UAE national team skipper entertained the Sunday spectators in the picturesque Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi with an unbeaten innings studded with eight boundaries and three sixes, helping the MI Emirates chase the target of 189 in 19 overs.

The 27-year-old Waseem along with opening batter Kusal Perera set the momentum for the mega run-chase with Perera scoring the fastest 50 of DP World ILT20 Season 2, taking only 22 balls to do so.

Their effort in the middle built a solid partnership of 110 in 9.5 overs which was finally broken by David Willey whose short-length bouncer ended Perera’s outing with wicketkeeper Michael Pepper taking a sound catch. Perera had scored 54 off 26 balls.

Though Perera’s dismissal was a setback, Waseem continued to power through making his intentions clear in the next over scoring a boundary off Marchant De Lange and a six, adding 11 runs in that over.

The run rate continued to surge at 10.00 per over with captain Nicholas Pooran and Waseem breaking no sweat in steering the innings

Waseem built on his impressive outing with well-timed boundaries in the following overs.

Though they lost Pooran (33 off 19 balls) to Ali Khan in the 17th over, Waseem along with Tim David (10 n.o) showcased composure to help their team sail through to their fourth win this season from five matches.

Sunday’s effort has put them on top of the points table.

MI Emirates captain Nicholas Pooran said after the match: “It was a good batting pitch. We had enough info on the pitch, and knew a total around 180 would be good to chase.

“It is tough to contain batters like Russell who added 9 more to what we had in mind. But I am happy that our bowlers put them under some pressure,”

Muhammad Waseem, who dedicated the player of the match award to his son said: “This is my second half century this season and I also hold the green belt; it feels quite special to be the leading run-getter of season 2.

“I am playing my natural game, and also getting to learn a lot from our coaches and senior players. The team is in good form, everyone is contributing and hope we will go on with the same momentum for the rest of the tournament.”

Sharjah Warriors vs Desert Vipers

Sharjah Warriors skipper, Tom-Kohler Cadmore, guided his team to a hard fought seven-run win over Desert Vipers in the second match of the day on Sunday, which was held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Through an aggressive 68 off 34 balls studded with eight sixes and two boundaries, Cadmore notched up a 101 runs partnership in 53 balls. He helped take his team to a total of 174 for 7 in 20 overs.

The Sunday crowd of nearly 13,000 were in for a great treat when Vipers tried to chase the target through Alex Hales’s 61 off 40 balls with five sixes and three boundaries and Azam Khan’s fighting 35 off 22 balls. Together, the pair put 52 runs in 33 balls for the fifth wicket but failed to carry their team to victory.

So close was the fight that Vipers needed only 22 runs to win off the last 12 balls, but failed to reach the target in the final minutes of the game.

Monday’s match

Monday, January 29, will see Sharjah Warriors take on Dubai Capitals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The match will start at 7pm and will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.

Fans across Afghanistan can however tune in at 6:30 pm to watch the pre-match show.

Related Topics:#MIEmirates ANP Cricket featured ILT20

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Sport

Aino Mina delivers 10-2 beating to Maiwand in ACL match

Published

48 mins ago

May 20, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 20, 2024)

Aino Mina FC thrashed Maiwand FC 10-2 in the 59th match of the Afghanistan Champions League (ACL) in Kabul on Sunday.

Highest scoring player was Ahmad Nabi Moqadas, who drove the ball into the net five times and was later declared man of the match.

Abdul Majid Khan managed two goals while fellow players Rahman Mohammadi, Aziz Ahmadi and Rashid Nazari each scored a single goal.

In the second match Sunday, Attack Energy thumped Mawj Sahil 4-0. The man of the match of this game was Ahmad Nabi Moqadas

With less than a week left in this year’s league, every goal is critical to the teams.

Twelve teams in total are taking part in the event which kicked off on Saturday, April 20. The event is expected to wrap up on Thursday, May 23.

Monday will see two matches, both to be broadcast live by Ariana Television.

In the first match of the day, Sorkh Poshan Khafi will take on Abu Muslim Farah FC at 1pm.

The next match will see Istiqlal Kabul FC take on Sarsabz Yashlar FC at 3.30pm.

This year’s thrilling event is being jointly hosted by the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), Ariana Television Network (ATN) and sponsor Victor Energy Drink.

Football fans across the country can tune in daily to Ariana Television to watch their favorite team take to the field.

Sport

Rashid Khan returns home, officially introduced as AWCC’s brand ambassador

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 19, 2024)

Afghanistan’s cricket superstar Rashid Khan was officially introduced Saturday as brand ambassador for Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC).

Rashid landed in Kabul on Saturday after an absence of several years. He returned following an official invitation from AWCC.

For years now, Rashid has followed the international cricket league circuit – playing for big name events including Indian Premier League (IPL), Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) among others.

In March 2018, during the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, he captained Afghanistan for the first time in an ODI match – becoming the youngest player to captain an international side, at the age of 19 years and 165 days.

Rashid, a right-handed batsman and right-arm legbreak bowler, holds numerous records, including being the youngest player to become the No. 1 bowler in One Day International Rankings.

He also holds the record for the best bowling figures for an associate nation in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the fastest bowler to complete 100 dismissals in T20 Internationals.

Rashid is a key player for Afghanistan and has contributed significantly to the country’s success in international cricket.

In line with Rashid’s commitment to the game, his resilience and determination to always do his best, AWCC moved to employ him as the company’s brand ambassador.

Aliullah Sarwari, CEO of AWCC, said at a ceremony in Kabul to mark the announcement and Rashid’s return to the country, that the company strives to ensure all citizens have access to high-quality telecommunications and internet services in the farthest and most remote areas of Afghanistan.

Sarwari added that high-quality telecommunication services, new technology, creating employment and access to the internet for all citizens in the farthest parts of the country are among the most important objectives of this company.

He also stated that the appointment of Rashid as brand ambassador for AWCC was made from a commercial and spiritual perspective.

Rashid, meanwhile, said it is the first time that he has been chosen as an ambassador and that he will try to serve the people and the country in the same way that he shines on the cricket field.

“I am happy and proud that I have been selected as a brand ambassador of Afghan Wireless for the first time,” said Rashid.

As a hero to his fellow countrymen, Rashid received a warm welcome on arrival in Kabul and thousands of cricket fans posted messages on social media to welcome him home.

One fan, Mohammad Sharif Noori, said on Facebook: “Thank God that you came. You are the pride of Afghanistan.”

Ishq Yousufzai, another fan, wrote on his social media page: “The pride of the homeland. The champion of Afghanistan.”

Sport

T20 World Cup warm-up match schedule released, Afghanistan to face Oman and Scotland

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 17, 2024)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the much-anticipated warm-up match schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. These preparatory games will take place from Monday, May 27 to Saturday, June 1, across various venues in the USA and the West Indies.

Venues and teams

The 16 warm-up matches will be hosted at the following locations:

Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Texas
Broward County Stadium, Florida
Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago

A total of 17 teams will participate in these matches, including South Africa, which will conduct an intra-squad game on May 29 in Florida. These matches will not carry official T20 international status, allowing teams the flexibility to field all members of their 15-player squads.

Schedule highlights

Unlike previous editions, teams now have the option to play up to two warm-up matches based on their arrival time.

Afghanistan will participate in two warm-up game, set for May 29 against Oman and May 31 against Scotland. Meanwhile, Pakistan and England will not engage in any warm-up fixtures as they will be engaging in a bilateral T20I series, which concludes on May 30.

The Afghanistan national cricket team departed Kabul on Thursday for the UAE to begin their T20 World Cup journey, which will be hosted by the U.S.

Afghanistan Cricket Board said some players participating in the IPL will join the team in the UAE.

It added that those whose IPL matches are still ongoing will join their teammates in the West Indies.

T20 World Cup Warm-up fixtures

Monday, May 27