A brilliant bowling display propelled Afghanistan to their first win over South Africa in international cricket on Wednesday night after they bundled their African opponents out for 106 in the first of three ODIs.

The stars of the match were undoubtedly Fazalhaq Farooqi and 18-year-old sensation Mohammad Ghazanfar who shared seven wickets between them.

Having won the toss, South Africa opted to bat first only to be jolted by Farooqi's early strikes. The left-arm pacer came around the wicket to account for Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram early on.

He added the wicket of Tony de Zorzi before Ghazanfar worked his magic on the middle-order, dismissing Tristan Stubbs and debutant Jason Smith for ducks in the same over.

South Africa, reduced to 29/5, soon crumbled to 36/7 as Ghazanfar snared the wicket of Kyle Verreynne and Andile Phehlukwayo succumbed to a run out.

An eighth-wicket partnership of 39 between Wiaan Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin, however, saw them past the danger and threatened to rebuild the innings.

Fortuin was bowled by Rashid Khan, playing his first ODI since last year's World Cup, but Mulder dragged them past the hundred mark, going on to reach his first ODI fifty.

He fell shortly afterwards to Farooqi, his 52 coming from 84 balls with five fours and a six.

Rashid wrapped up the innings in 33.3 overs when he had Lungi Ngidi leg before to finish with 2-30.

Afghanistan will play the second of three ODI’s against South Africa on Friday. 

Afghanistan’s national team went down 2-1 to Argentina on Wednesday night in their second FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024 match in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan’s goal was scored by Hussain Mohammadi and the Player of the Match went to Afghanistan’s Javad Safari.

Argentina’s win meant the Group C team booked their spot in the knockout phase of the tournament.

Next up for Afghanistan is their clash against Ukraine on Saturday, September 21.

Fans can however tune in to watch Thursday and Friday’s matches live on Ariana Television - the official broadcaster of this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov says Ashgabat has invested more than $1.5 billion in joint projects with Afghanistan.

At a meeting to provide information about the joint infrastructure projects of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, Meredov said that Turkmenistan intends to expand political, economic, commercial, transportation and transit relations with Afghanistan.

Meredov has also invited India, Pakistan, international banks and the Asian Development Bank to invest in the TAPI project.

“The government of Turkmenistan has invested more than 1.5 billion dollars in various projects with Afghanistan. Turkmenistan is determined to develop and expand political, economic, commercial, transportation and transit relations with Afghanistan as much as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, acting head of the Afghan embassy in Turkmenistan Fazl Mohammad Saber also said that the Islamic Emirate is determined to implement joint projects between the two countries.

“The opening of TAPI, TAP, fiber optics and railway lines, etc., is actually a sign of true friendship and brotherhood between the people of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, who have been living side by side in a good neighborly atmosphere for a long time,” said Saber.

“The people of Afghanistan welcome the successful implementation of these projects, and the Islamic Emirate is determined to implement them,” he added.

IEA’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that currently, the economic relations between Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan are expanding.

In this meeting, the ambassadors of China, India, the head of the Asian Development Bank branch and the head of the UN representative also spoke and welcomed and praised the implementation of the mentioned projects.