Sport

World Cup 2023: Only 2 days to go! What you need to know!

Published

3 years ago

October 3, 2023

The start of the exciting ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is just two days away and fans around the world are gearing up to watch the global extravaganza, which will of course end in celebration for one team and millions of fans.

Afghan fans meanwhile have not been forgotten about as Ariana Television Network has secured the exclusive, and live, broadcasting rights for all matches, which will be played in India.

Games will be broadcast live each day on Ariana Television, while concurrent matches will be live-streamed on Ariana Television’s website.

This World Cup, which starts Thursday, will meanwhile provide a sharp focus for one-day international cricket (ODIs) and a chance to show how the 50-over game has evolved since India last staged the tournament in 2011.

In recent years, critics have complained that ODIs, which were once the economic driving force of the game, are now often reduced to what they say are “meaningless” bilateral series.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell recently said in a column on ESPNCricinfo that “the ODI has been reduced to virtually depending on a World Cup year for its importance.”

Other experts say the game is too “predictable” and that it has become “boring”.

These sentiments are not however shared with millions of fans around the world who consider ODIs a stalwart of the International Cricket Council’s schedule.

Observers say that perhaps the biggest on-field development since 2011 has been the change in what constitutes a big total.

There have been 24 occasions on which a total of 400 has been passed in ODI cricket and 15 of those have come since the 2011 World Cup.

In fact World Cup-holders England have lifted the world record for an ODI total to 444 in 2016; 481 in 2018 and again last year with a staggering 498 against the Netherlands.

But despite the negative opinions of some critics, ODIs, which date back to 1971, are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Instead, there will be some thrilling matches over the next few weeks, including at least one much anticipated clash between Asian giants and arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

Ten teams are already well into their warm up matches in India, and each team will play every other team once in the league stage. The top four will go through to the semi-finals.

So, who are the favorites to lift this year’s trophy?

Well, experts point towards India as having a good chance, given that they are hosts and have the home crowd on their side and that they are also No.1 in ICC’s ODI rankings.

England might also have a shot as they are defending champions, who won the T20 World Cup last year, and they remain the fastest-scoring batting line-up in ODIs.

Then there is Pakistan, who held the No. 1 ranking until India took it from them.

New Zealand were losing finalists at the last two ODI World Cups as well as the 2021 T20 World Cup. They have a core group of highly experienced, skilful players who will no doubt want to go one better this time.

The experts point out that Australia meanwhile might find themselves seriously tested by Sri Lanka in Lucknow, while New Zealand could face the same predicament by both Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Chennai.

Afghanistan may also pose a big threat to Pakistan, who don’t really have a gun wicket-taking spinner, when they meet in Chennai.

The opening game on October 5 will pit England and New Zealand against each other in Ahmedabad. The final will be on November 19.

There will be six day games, starting at 10.30am local time, but every other match will be day-night contests, starting at 2pm India time.

There are however reserve days in case of rain for both semi-finals, scheduled to take place in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16, and the final.

Afghanistan’s first match will be against Bangladesh on Saturday, October 7, in Dharamsala.

The fixtures are as follows?

• Afghanistan vs Bangladesh: Saturday, October 7, 2023, Dharamsala
• Afghanistan vs India: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Delhi
• Afghanistan vs England: Saturday, October 14, 2023, Delhi
• Afghanistan vs New Zealand: Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Chennai
• Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Monday, October 23, 2023, Chennai
• Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: Monday, October 30, 2023, Pune
• Afghanistan vs Netherlands: Friday, November 3, 2023, Lucknow
• Afghanistan vs Australia: Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Mumbai
• Afghanistan vs South Africa: Friday, November 10, 2023, Ahmedabad

Ariana Television Network will keep fans up-to-date on all the news and on broadcasting and streaming details. So be sure to check back here, regularly, for the latest World Cup news.

Related Topics:#TwoDays #WorldCup ArianaNews featured India

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ILT20 teams required to field at least two UAE and Afghanistan players in Season 5

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2026

Ariana News

The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has introduced new playing conditions for its fifth season, with a significant emphasis on giving UAE and Afghan cricketers a guaranteed role in every team’s starting line-up.

Under the revised regulations, all six franchises must include at least two players from the UAE and two from Afghanistan in their Playing XI, alongside a minimum of one player from an ICC Associate Member nation.

The changes represent an important opportunity for Afghanistan’s cricketers, ensuring that at least two Afghan players feature in every team’s starting eleven throughout the tournament.

The requirement must also be maintained during matches when substitutions or Super Subs are introduced. If a UAE, Afghan or Associate player leaves the field, a replacement from the same group must be used when a team has selected only the minimum required number.

The new rules are part of a wider effort by the ILT20 to strengthen the participation of regional and Associate cricket nations, while providing greater opportunities for emerging talent alongside established international stars.

The league has also revised its concussion replacement regulations. Teams will no longer need to submit a list of potential concussion replacements before a match. However, any replacement must be medically approved, like-for-like and cleared by the match referee. The minimum player representation requirements must also be maintained.

Other changes include the introduction of a new ‘batter zone’ to determine Wide deliveries on both the off and leg sides, while the existing 60-second stop clock will now apply to the batting team as well as the fielding side.

The batting team will receive two warnings for failing to be ready within the allotted time between overs. From the third offence onwards, the opposition will be awarded five penalty runs.

Season 5 will run from November 21 to December 20, 2026, featuring six franchises and some of the biggest names in international cricket.

Among the Afghan stars expected to feature are Rashid Khan and Fazalhaq Farooqi for MI Emirates, and Mohammad Nabi for Sharjah Warriorz, alongside a wider pool of Afghan players across the franchises.

The tournament opens on November 21 with Desert Vipers taking on MI Emirates in Dubai.

For Afghanistan, the guaranteed minimum of two players in every team’s starting XI is particularly significant, offering its cricketers increased exposure, valuable competitive experience and a prominent role in one of the region’s leading T20 competitions.

The season will be broadcast live and exclusively across Afghanistan on Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN). Fans can also follow ATN’s social media platforms for the latest updates, match schedules and further information throughout the competition.

Sport

Afghanistan trail Zimbabwe by 180 runs at stumps on day two of second Test

Published

20 hours ago

November 14, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan ended the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe at 159 for six after 48 overs, trailing by 180 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Zimbabwe, who resumed day two with a strong position after reaching 250 for five on the opening day, were bowled out for 339 in 114.5 overs in their first innings.

Afghanistan faced a challenging task in reply but managed to score 159 runs while losing six wickets by the close of play.

With a deficit of 180 runs and four wickets remaining, Afghanistan will look to build a stronger batting performance on day three and reduce the gap.

The second Test remains finely poised, with Zimbabwe holding the advantage heading into the third day.

Sport

Debutant Naseer Khan strikes four as Afghanistan fight back against Zimbabwe in second Test

Zimbabwe were well placed at 201 for one after nearly 58 overs, but Naseer triggered a middle-order collapse, taking three wickets in eight overs. Zimbabwe lost 3 for 12 during that period, and slipped from 201 for 1 to 250 for 5 at stumps.

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

Ariana News

Afghanistan fought back against Zimbabwe on the opening day of the second Test in Sharjah, with debutant left-arm spinner Naseer Khan Maroofkhil claiming four wickets to halt Zimbabwe’s strong start.

After winning the toss and opting to bat, Zimbabwe made a solid start through Innocent Kaia and Ben Curran, who put together a 98-run opening partnership. Naseer broke the stand with his first delivery after lunch, trapping Curran lbw for 44.

Kaia then combined with Brendan Taylor for another strong partnership, adding 102 runs for the second wicket. Both batters reached half-centuries before Naseer turned the game around.

Kaia, batting on 96, was trapped lbw while attempting a slog sweep. In his next over, Naseer dismissed Zimbabwe captain Brian Bennett for a duck before Ziaur Rahman took a tumbling catch to remove Wessly Madhevere, who was caught at long-off after attempting to loft a delivery that stayed low.

Zimbabwe lost further momentum as Taylor and Antum Naqvi adopted a cautious approach following the three quick wickets. The pair added just 21 runs in nine overs before Naqvi struck a six off Naseer.

Taylor moved into the 90s with a boundary off Naseer, but Ziaur Rahman ended Naqvi’s 44-ball stay on eight runs, having him caught at first slip.

Taylor remained unbeaten on 96 at stumps, while Tafadzwa Tsiga was not out as Zimbabwe closed the day at 250 for five, leaving the second Test finely poised.