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Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 181 runs in U19 World Cup opener

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Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 181 runs in their first match of the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa on Saturday.

Pakistan skipper Saad Baig won the toss and opted to bat first in East London. The Pakistan openers were patient against the new-ball pairing of Bashir Ahmad and Allah Mohammad Ghanzafar. However, the early good work was undone by Khalil Ahmed. The pacer picked two wickets in his first two overs, including Shamyl Hossain (17) and Azan Awais (5). Captain Baig counter-attacked at number four, particularly taking on the Afghanistan spinners, hitting four sixes during his stay, icc-cricket.com reported.

He was eventually cleaned up by a beauty from Ghanzafar in the 28th over. Ahmed Hussain fell soon after, as Pakistan's scoring rate was stifled over the next few overs. However, around the 35th over mark, Shahzaib Khan and Muhammad Riazullah played a number of attacking shots to get Pakistan back in the game. They finished the second Powerplay with a four and began the last stretch with a flurry of big strokes. By the time Riazullah fell, the duo had added 84 at run-a-ball.

Shahzaib's aggression bore results for the Boys in Green. He reached his hundred in the 48th over, while Pakistan added 84 runs in the last 10.

Pakistan pacers were right on mark with the new ball. Wafiullah Tarakhil (0) and Jamshid Zadran (1) fell to Amir Hassan and Ubaid Shah respectively, even as Afghanistan stood at 2/2. Hassan Eisakhil steadied Afghanistan along with Sohail Khan Zurmati. The duo hit six boundaries in the first Powerplay, to keep Afghanistan's run rate closer to four. Ubaid struck once more in the 10th over, to leave Pakistan in a strong position.

Disciplined bowling from the Pakistan pacers ensured that wickets fell at regular intervals. Ahmad Hassan cleaned up Zurmati with a slower one, the giant Mohammad Zeeshan caught a near-perfect length and brought about the downfall of the Afghanistan lower-order by sticking to that area. Afghanistan were skittled out for merely 103.

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Deputy PM congratulates Afghanistan A for their thrilling win in T20 cup championships

Messages of congratulations poured in overnight from fans around the world and from the cricketing fraternity.

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Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Abdul Kabir sent a message of congratulations to the Afghanistan A cricket team on Monday after Afghan Abdalyan lifted the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 trophy in Oman on Sunday night.

In his congratulatory message, Kabir called the final a “thrilling” match and said it was a “triumph”.

“Congratulations to all citizens and cricket players on this remarkable achievement.

“Afghan youth and athletes deserve great recognition for their dedication and for showcasing our nation's pride in every competition,” he said.

Messages of congratulations poured in overnight from fans around the world and from the cricketing fraternity.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) not only paid tribute to the players but also to the often-forgotten support staff who helped propel the team to victory.

In a post on X, the board said: “A huge shoutout to our team management and support staff for their unwavering support and dedication to Afghan Abdalyan's success in this event.”

Afghanistan star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi also posted a message of congratulations on X.

He said: “Zabardast! What an incredible achievement by our young lions, lifting the ACC Emerging Teams Asian Cup 2024! Proud of these talented boys for bringing glory to the nation. Congratulations to all Afghans! Inshallah, even greater heights await!”

Sunday’s win shows the progress Afghanistan has made as a cricketing nation and after beating Sri Lanka A in the final, the excitement in their camp was tangible.

Afghan Abdalyan won the game by seven wickets, chasing a modest target of 134.

As soon as the last ball crossed the ropes, Afghanistan players ran towards the ground in delight.

There were congratulatory hugs and handshakes all around and Afghanistan fans in the crowd were also overjoyed. It was indeed a moment of great pride for all Afghan people.

The Player of the Tournament award went to a deserving Sediqullah Atal, the man who put on an unmatched consistency in the entire competition and scored 368 runs throughout the tournament.

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Afghanistan A makes history; claims Emerging Teams Asia Cup Title 2024

Following a remarkable semi-final win against India A, Afghanistan’s bowlers once again played a crucial role in securing the title

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Afghanistan A made history on Sunday night in Oman when the team bagged their maiden Emerging Teams Asia Cup Title after beating Sri Lanka A by 7 wickets. 

The final held at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat not only marked a significant achievement for Afghanistan A but also highlighted their bowling prowess throughout the tournament.

Following a remarkable semi-final win against India A, Afghanistan’s bowlers once again played a crucial role in securing the title.

Afghanistan A’s bowling attack established dominance from the outset of the final match. 

Sri Lanka A faced immense pressure and struggled to form stable partnerships as they attempted to build their innings. 

Sahan Arachchige emerged as the lone warrior for Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 64 runs off 47 balls. 

However, his efforts were not enough to propel his team to a competitive total, as Afghanistan’s bowlers stifled their scoring opportunities effectively. 

Bilal Sami delivered an outstanding performance, taking 3 wickets for just 22 runs, while Allah Ghazanfar maintained an impressive economy rate with figures of 2 for 14. 

The pitch at Al Amerat proved challenging for both teams, contributing to the low scores. 

Sri Lanka A managed to post only 133 runs, a total that would require exceptional bowling to defend.

Afghanistan A’s innings began with an unexpected twist when opener Zubaid Akbari was dismissed for a golden duck on the very first ball. 

This early setback could have derailed their chase; however, Sediqullah Atal showcased remarkable composure at the crease. His steady knock of 55 runs off 55 balls provided much-needed stability and allowed Afghanistan to recover from the initial shock.

Despite losing Akbari early, Atal’s resilience and tactical approach helped Afghanistan navigate through difficult phases of their innings.

The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to capitalize on their early success, managing only three dismissals throughout Afghanistan’s innings. 

As Afghanistan approached the target, Mohammad Ishfaq stepped up to guide his team home with a calm finish. 

His controlled batting ensured that Afghanistan reached their target with 11 balls to spare, sealing a seven-wicket victory. 

The combination of Atal’s anchoring innings and Ishfaq’s composed finish underscored the depth and talent within Afghanistan’s batting lineup.

Significance of the victory

Cricket Times reports that this triumph is monumental for Afghanistan A as it underscores the burgeoning talent within their ranks. 

The team’s balanced approach - marked by exceptional bowling and resilient batting - demonstrates significant growth on the international stage. 

The performances of players like Sami and Ghazanfar were pivotal not just in this match but throughout the tournament, showcasing their potential to impact senior cricket in the future.

 

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Afghanistan beat Bangladesh 3-2 in AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Afghanistan have qualified for the 2025 AFC U7 Asian Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia in April next year.

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Afghanistan U17 national football team defeated Bangladesh 3-2 in their final match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Sunday to end their campaign undefeated.

Afghanistan’s goals were scored by Yasir Safi, Milad Noori and Arash Ahmadi.

It was the fourth and last game of Afghanistan in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Afghanistan U17 had previously beaten the Philippines, Macau, and hosts Cambodia.

Afghanistan have qualified for the 2025 AFC U7 Asian Cup that will be held in Saudi Arabia in April next year.

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