Afghanistan Archives

Sri Lanka call off Afghanistan white-ball series due to Middle East war

Sri Lanka have indefinitely postponed a six-match white-ball series against Afghanistan that was due to start in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, an official said on Monday.

“We had to cancel because of the flight situation… and the ongoing fighting in the region,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official told AFP.

The teams were scheduled to play three T20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17, and three one-day internationals in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25.

It would have been the first time that Afghanistan had hosted Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.

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Fighting has spread across the Middle East since the United States of America (UAE) and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, with Tehran launching retaliatory strikes.

The conflict has disrupted flights across the region, including in Dubai, where the airport was briefly closed on Saturday as Iran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Gulf.

War-ravaged Afghanistan has never hosted an international cricket match, instead having to play its home fixtures in India or the UAE.

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Afghanistan replace Rashid as captain after T20 World Cup exit

Afghanistan replaced Rashid Khan with Ibrahim Zadran as skipper Thursday for the T20I series against Sri Lanka but are still monitoring the situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stage the matches.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said Zadran’s appointment is in alignment for future build-up.

“In alignment with the ACB’s long-term strategic vision and following recent changes in our team management, we have made the thoughtful decision to appoint Zadran as new T20I skipper,” ACB said in a statement.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will continue to lead the team in the ODI series, which follows the T20Is.

The series begins with three Twenty20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15, and 17 before the ODIs are played in Dubai on March 20, 22, and 25.

Afghanistan crashed out in the first round of the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka after losing to South Africa and New Zealand.

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As a fall out, fast bowler Fazal Haq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have been left out from both the squads, the release said.

Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, also left the post after completing his tenure, with another Englishman, Richard Pybus, taking over.

ACB said it was constantly monitoring the situation in the UAE before making a final decision.

“We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation in the region and a final decision will be made in a couple of days,” ACB said.

“Should circumstances necessitate a change, the ACB will consider exploring alternative options for both the host country and the event schedule.”

Afghanistan’s T20I Squad:

Ibrahim Zadran (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Rahman, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Afghanistan’s ODI Squad:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmat Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bilal Sami

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Tim Seifert powers New Zealand to victory over Afghanistan

CHENNAI: Tim Seifert produced a match-winning knock as New Zealand chased down a challenging target to secure a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

Pursuing a daunting 183-run target, the Blackcaps reached the finish line with five wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare, overcoming an early collapse with a composed and aggressive middle-order effort.

New Zealand endured a shaky start when Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck twice in the second over, dismissing Finn Allen for 1 and Rachin Ravindra for a duck on consecutive deliveries, leaving the visitors reeling at 14-2 in just 1.4 overs.

Under pressure, Glenn Phillips joined Seifert at the crease, and the pair launched a strong counterattack, stitching together a brisk 74-run stand for the third wicket.

Phillips played fluently for his 42 off 25 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, before Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan broke the partnership in the 10th over.

Seifert, however, continued to dominate and built another crucial 36-run partnership with Mark Chapman.

The wicketkeeper-batter top-scored with a superb 65 off 42 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries, including three sixes, before departing as New Zealand closed in on the target.

Afghanistan fought back again when Chapman fell for a quick 28 off 17 balls in the 16th over, leaving New Zealand needing 28 runs.

But Daryl Mitchell and captain Mitchell Santner held their nerve, guiding the side home with an unbeaten 33-run stand off just 13 deliveries.

Mitchell finished unbeaten on 25 from 14 balls, while Santner contributed a handy 17 not out from eight deliveries to seal the victory.

For Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi chipped in with one scalp each.

Earlier, Gulbadin Naib smashed a brisk half-century to guide Afghanistan to a competitive 182-6.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan saw his decision rewarded as his side recovered strongly from an early wobble to post a challenging total on the board.

Afghanistan began cautiously, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran adding 35 runs in the opening five overs.

However, Lockie Ferguson swung momentum back in New Zealand’s favour by removing both openers in the same over, reducing Afghanistan to 44/2.

Zadran managed 10 off 12 balls, while Gurbaz contributed 27 from 22 deliveries, including two fours and a six.

With the innings at a delicate stage, Gulbadin Naib joined forces with Sediqullah Atal to rebuild.

The pair stitched together a crucial 79-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilising the innings and setting the platform for acceleration.

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Atal’s composed knock of 29 came to an end in the 15th over, but Naib continued to dominate the bowlers.

The experienced all-rounder then shared a quick 33-run stand with Darwish Rasooli before falling in the 18th over to Rachin Ravindra.

Naib top-scored with a fluent 63 off 35 balls, striking four boundaries and three sixes in an innings that shifted the contest in Afghanistan’s favour.

Rasooli followed soon after, dismissed by Matt Henry for a brisk 20 off 13 balls, which included a four and a six.

In the closing stages, Mohammad Nabi (10*) and Azmatullah Omarzai (14) provided late momentum with an 18-run partnership off just 11 deliveries, ensuring Afghanistan finished strongly.

For New Zealand, Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with 2/40 from his four overs, while Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry and Ravindra claimed a wicket each.

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T20 World Cup 2026: Afghanistan win toss against New Zealand

CHENNAI: Afghanistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the fourth match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

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Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

HEAD TO HEAD

Afghanistan and New Zealand have faced each other twice in T20I cricket, with both their meetings coming at the T20 World Cup.

The Kiwis clinched victory in the 2021 edition, while Afghanistan returned the favour in 2024.

Matches 2, New Zealand 1, Afghanistan 1

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz pulls out of PSL 11

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, just days after being announced as a direct signing by Peshawar Zalmi.

The wicketkeeper batter from Afghanistan confirmed the development via video message posted on Instagram.

Speaking in his native Pashto, he cited scheduling commitments following the T20 World Cup and personal responsibilities at home as the reasons behind his unavailability.

“After the World Cup, I won’t be available for the PSL this season due to my schedule,” Gurbaz said. “I will be focusing more on my foundation work in Afghanistan. Thank you for all the love and support.”

The 2017 PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi had officially announced the signing of the Afghan batter on 5 February, sharing a graphic of Gurbaz in traditional attire against a mountainous backdrop on their social media platforms. The franchise did not disclose the financial details of the deal.

However, the 22-year-old’s withdrawal means he will not feature in PSL 11, which is set to begin later this month.

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Since making his international debut in 2019, Gurbaz has established himself as a key figure in Afghanistan cricket. He has represented his country in two Tests, 52 One-Day Internationals and 83 T20 Internationals, earning a reputation as an aggressive opening batter.

Gurbaz is also a familiar name on the global franchise circuit, having played in major leagues including the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), SA20, and ILT20.

In the Pakistan Super League, Gurbaz has featured in three seasons, turning out for Multan Sultans in 2021 and Islamabad United in 2022 and 2023. Across 15 PSL matches, he has scored 318 runs at an average of 22.71, including one half-century.

His absence from PSL 11 leaves Peshawar Zalmi with a late decision to make as teams finalise their squads under the league’s new auction-based system.

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Dominant England, Afghanistan seal victories in U19 World Cup

HARARE: Ben Mayes’ record 191 powered England to a crushing 252-run victory over Scotland, while Afghanistan continued their winning run with a resounding nine-wicket win against Tanzania in the U19 World Cup group stage fixtures.

Batting first, England racked up a massive 404-6 in their 50 overs, thanks to a monumental second wicket partnership between Joseph Moores and Ben Mayes.

After opener Ben Dawkins got out in the second over for five runs, Mayes joined Moores and forged an 188-run stand, which laid a foundation for a big total.

The pair batted briskly and kept the Scottish bowlers at bay with Mayes scoring his half-century on 32 balls. At this stage, the scorecard read 102-1.

Meanwhile, Dawkins also provided support from the other end and kept the scoreboard ticking.

The stand eventually culminated on the first ball of the 24th over as Moores got out after scoring 81 from 65, which was laced with four boundaries and five sixes.

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Despite the wicket, Mayes remained unfazed and stitched a couple of stands with middle-order batters.

There were some other brief contributions from England batters, but Ben Mayes remained dominant and posted a record score for the Three Lions in Youth ODIs.

He was eventually dismissed in the 45th over after amassing 191 from 117 balls. His record-breaking knock was peppered with 18 fours and eight sixes.

At the time of his dismissal, England’s scorecard read 354-5 in 45.2 overs.

For Scotland, Jake Woodhouse stood out with three wickets to his name.

In reply, Scotland could not get going and were bowled out for 152 in 44.5 overs.

After a positive 38-run start from the openers, Scotland lost their way and lost wickets in heaps.

Luke Hands and Alex Green combined to rattle the top order, with Caleb Falconer and Ralphie Albert cutting through the rest of the batting lineup.

Finlay Carter was the only silver lining for Scotland, who top scored with 34 from 55 with the aid of four boundaries.

Ethan Ramsay was the other batter to impress, who remained unbeaten on 20 from 23 balls. The right-hander struck four boundaries.

For England, all-rounder Caleb Falconer scalped three wickets.

Earlier, in a Group D fixture, Afghanistan sealed a nine-wicket victory over Tanzania.

Tanzania could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as Nooristani Omarzai led the bowling attack, skittling them for 85 in 36 overs.

Augustino Mwamele remained Tanzania’s top scorer with 14 goals.

For Afghanistan, it was Nooristani who wreaked havoc with the ball and tore through the opposition’s batting lineup.

The right-arm medium pacer returned with the figures of 5/9 in seven overs. Uzairullah Niazai also supported him well with two wickets to his name.

In reply, the Young Afghan Atlans chased down a mere 86-run target in 12.4 overs. The result marked Afghanistan’s third consecutive victory.

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Dominant Afghanistan crush West Indies in U19 World Cup

WINDHOEK: All-round Afghanistan sealed a comprehensive 138-run victory over the West Indies in the 11th match of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup here at the High Performance Oval on Sunday.

Set 262: West Indies batting lineup folded for 124 in 33.2 overs.

Afghanistan bowlers applied pressure from the onset, with spinner Wahidullah Zadran cutting through the top-order.

At the end of the five overs West Indies were 21-3 with Jewel Andrew and skipper Joshua Dorne at the crease.

The pair stabilized the innings with a 30-run partnership, bringing the total to over 50 run mark.

However, Apple’s dismissal sparked another collapse that West Indies could not recover from.

Jewel Andrew was the silver lining for West Indies, top scoring with 56 from 70 balls with the aid of four boundaries and three sixes.

For Afghanistan, Nooristani Omarzai starred with the ball, picking up four wickets while Wahidullah Zadran and Khatir Stanikzai shared six wickets between them.

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Earlier, after opting to bat first, Afghanistan put up 262-6 at the end of their 50 overs.

Osman Sadat and Mahboob Khan starred with the bat, both scoring vital 88 and 86 runs respectively.

The pair was involved in a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket partnership that drived Afghanistan’s innings.

For West Indies, Jakeem Pollard picked up three wickets.

In the 10th fixture, England romped to an eight-wicket win over the hosts, Zimbabwe.

Set mere 209, England chased down the target with ease in 28 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.

Skipper Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes starred with the bat. Rew made 86* from 66, striking four boundaries and seven fours. While Mayes remained unbeaten on 77 from 72, hitting four sixes and three boundaries.

For Zimbabwe, Shelton Mazvitorera scalped two wickets apiece.

Put into bat first, Zimbabwe only mustered 208-9 at the end of their innings as Skipper Simbarashe Mudzengerere top-scored for them with 45* off 63 balls.

For England, Manny Lumsden took four wickets, whereas Farhan Ahmed and Ralphie Albert shared four wickets between them.

Meanwhile, the Group B fixture between the USA and New Zealand was washed out due to rain.

USA managed to score 253-9 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to a sublime century from Nitish Sudini.

Sudini made an unbeaten 117* from 133 balls, coming out to bat at No 07 position.

In reply, New Zealand made 12 in one over before rain arrived and halted the proceedings.

Later, the match was called off due to weather conditions, with no further play possible.

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West Indies name squad for T20I series against Afghanistan

ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named a 16-member squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, scheduled to start in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 19 January 2025.

The three-match series — ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 dress rehearsal will be played on 19, 21 and 22 January at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).

“The series will serve as crucial preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 6, with the final squad for this highly anticipated competition to be announced ahead of the three-match T20I series against South Africa set for January 27–31,” CWI wrote in a press release.

Among the inclusions are pacer Shamar Joseph, who remained out of action due to an injury sustained ahead of the India tour. Meanwhile, opener Evin Lewis also made a return from an injury layoff.

Brandon King will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Shai Hope, who is unavailable due to his commitments in the ongoing South Africa 20 (SA20) league, alongside Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Sherfane Rutherford.

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The squad also includes Quentin Sampson, who has earned his maiden call-up to the international side after his outstanding performances in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025.

Sampson is included in place of Rovman Powell, who was rested alongside Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd as part of workload management.

Following the announcement, head coach Daren Sammy termed the series as an ideal opportunity to get adapted to conditions.

“The opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is ideal, as it assists with our preparations and confidence building ahead of what will be a competitive T20 World Cup.”

“It also presents a valuable platform to assess players who would’ve missed significant time towards the end of 2025, as well as those stepping into important roles for this series, prior to the selection of the final squad for the international tournament,” he said.

West Indies squad

Brandon King (capt), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer.

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Afghanistan unveil squad for U19 World Cup 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Mahboob Khan appointed as captain.

Khan, who recently turned 19, brings valuable leadership experience to the team, having led Afghanistan in both the 2024 and 2025 U19 Asia Cup tournaments.

He will be supported by a spin-heavy bowling attack, a hallmark of Afghan cricket at all levels.

Wahidullah Zadran, the 18-year-old offspinner who has already impressed at the senior level with the Gulf Giants in last year’s ILT20, is the standout in the bowling unit.

Zadran, who also entered the IPL auction in December as one of the youngest entrants, will be backed by left-arm spinner Zaitullah Shaheen and legspinner Hafeez Zadran.

The batting lineup features promising young talents, including Khalid Ahmadzai, who has a first-class century to his name, and Uzairullah Niazai.

Pace options include Nooristani Omarzai, expected to provide the team with crucial breakthroughs.

Afghanistan earned their spot in the U19 World Cup by finishing unbeaten in last year’s Asia Qualifier, highlighting their growing strength at the youth level.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Tanzania, and West Indies.

Afghanistan Squad:

Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab and Hafeez Zadran.

Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi and Izat Noor.

Group Stage U19 World Cup Fixtures:

January 16: vs South Africa, Windhoek
January 18: vs West Indies, Windhoek
January 21: vs Tanzania, Windhoek

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Harbhajan picks Afghanistan among T20 World Cup semi-finalists

DUBAI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has included Afghanistan among the four teams to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking during a press conference in Dubai ahead of the launch of the Legends 90s Season Four , Harbhajan tipped defending champions India as the favourites to lift the title.

“I think India has a very good chance to win the World Cup because they are a very strong team and they are playing at home,” he remarked.

“They know the conditions better than anybody else. But the World Cup pressure is something which they need to handle better than the others, which is the most important thin,” he added.

He also picked Australia and South Africa as teams to keep an eye on, highlighting their recent performances.

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“I think Australia have always been a very good team and top contenders to win any cup. South Africa are the other contenders for the title with their current form. They have been playing some outstanding cricket of late.

Harbhajan cited Afghanistan spinners and deemed the side that could challenge any opposition.

“Afghanistan are also very strong with their spinners. I think they can beat anyone in these conditions. So these are my four picks for the semis,” said Harbhajan.

For those unaware, the 10th edition of the mega event will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the tournament slated to run from February 7 to March 8 next year.

The event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opener will be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands, with hosts and the reigning champions India taking on the USA later in the day in Mumbai.

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