Tag: Afghanistan

Former Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer will wear the national colors again after nearly seven years, as he has been recalled for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, starting October 29 in Harare.

Cremer, who last represented Zimbabwe in 2018, had stepped away from cricket to pursue a professional career in golf and relocated to the UAE, where his wife works as an airline pilot.

However, the veteran spinner recently returned home and reignited his cricketing ambitions through local club competitions, a move that has now paved the way for his international comeback.

The Zimbabwe selectors have rewarded Cremer’s persistence, drafting him into a largely unchanged 15-member squad that went unbeaten through the ICC Africa Regional Qualifiers earlier this year.

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He replaces fast bowler Trevor Gwandu in the lineup, as Zimbabwe continue preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

All-rounder Sean Williams remains unavailable due to personal reasons, Zimbabwe Cricket confirmed.

The series against Afghanistan will be played entirely at the Harare Sports Club, which also hosted the one-off Test earlier in the tour.

The T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2.

Zimbabwe squad for Afghanistan T20Is

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Brad Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor.

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DUBAI: Afghanistan have been fined 25 percent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Harare, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Thursday.

The sanction was imposed by Richie Richardson of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees after Afghanistan were found to be five overs short of their target, even after taking allowances into account.

According to Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over their side fails to bowl within the allotted time.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Nitin Menon, with Forster Mutizwa serving as third umpire and Percival Sizara as fourth.

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Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi accepted the sanction, which means no formal hearing was required.

The match itself ended on a high note for Zimbabwe, who recorded their first home Test victory in over a decade, their first since 2013, defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs.

It was a comprehensive all-round display from the hosts, marking a memorable return to red-ball success.

Following the Test, the two sides will now turn their attention to the T20I series, with three matches scheduled at the same venue from October 29 to November 2.

Historically, Afghanistan have dominated Zimbabwe in the shortest format, winning 16 of their 18 encounters, while Zimbabwe have managed just two victories.

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Zimbabwe won a Test by an innings for only the third time when they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, with two days to spare.

Afghanistan batted after Zimbabwe won the toss and were all out for 127. Zimbabwe made 359 in reply, with Ben Curran hitting a maiden century, giving the hosts a 232-run first innings lead.

Curran won the player of the match award for his 121 runs, which swung the one-off Test decisively in favour of the hosts on the second day.

The tourists’ batters struggled again in their second innings and were dismissed for 159, with only Ibrahim Zadran (42) and middle-order Bahir Shah (32) having some success.

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Brad Evans took five wickets in the first Afghan innings, and the second time round it was the turn of Richard Ngarava (5-37) to sparkle as the quick claimed his first Test five-for.

Zimbabwe beat Pakistan by an innings in 1995 in Harare and repeated the feat against Bangladesh six years later in Bulawayo.

It was the first Test victory by Zimbabwe in Harare since 2013, when they beat Pakistan by 24 runs in a thriller.

The sole positive for Afghanistan, who beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a two-Test series last January, was the performance of debutant seamer Ziaur Rahman, who captured seven wickets.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the upcoming home T20I tri-series will go ahead as planned, despite the withdrawal of Afghanistan following cross-border tensions.

A PCB spokesperson told a local news channel on Saturday that the series, scheduled from November 17 to 29, will proceed according to the original timeline.

The board is currently exploring options to bring in a replacement team, with a final announcement expected soon.

According to sources, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been approached as a potential participant to fill the void left by Afghanistan.

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The series was originally set to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan came late on Friday, reportedly in response to recent cross-border unrest that resulted in the deaths of three local cricketers in the Urgun district.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana, in Paktika province near the Pakistan border, to take part in a friendly match when the attack occurred.

Despite the setback, the PCB remains committed to hosting the series and ensuring uninterrupted international cricket at home.

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DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket team players received a hostile reception at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport following their whitewash against Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series, which concluded on October 14, 2025.

Afghanistan, for the first time, clean-swept an Asian Side during the ODI series played at the United Arab Emirates.

Bangladesh, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, were completely outplayed in the series, losing by five wickets, 80 runs, and 200 runs in the three matches, respectively.

Following the team’s return, the players were booed at the airport, and their vehicles were also attacked, according to Bangladesh player Naim Shaikh, who took to social media and penned down an emotional note.

“We who take the field, we don’t just play – we carry the name of our country on our chest. The red and green flag isn’t just on our bodies; it’s in our blood. With every ball, every run, every breath, we strive to make that flag proud,” he wrote.

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“Yes, sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t. Victory comes, defeat comes – that’s the reality of sports. We know that when we lose, it hurts you, angers you – because you love this country just as much as we do.

He further revealed the situation they had faced during their reception at the airport.

“But the way hate was directed at us today, the attacks on our vehicles, that truly hurts. We are humans; we make mistakes, but we never lack love or effort for our country. Every moment, we try for the country, for the people, to bring a smile to your faces.

“We want love, not hate. Let criticism come with reason, not anger. Because we are all children of the same flag. Whether we win or lose – may the red and green always be a source of pride for all of us, not anger.

“We will fight, and we will rise again – for the country, for you, for this flag,” Naim Shaikh concluded.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has urged players to refrain from using social media to respond to critics.

Simmons, ahead of the West Indies series, shed light on the matter and said that the players in an individual capacity are allowed to express their views; however, they should avoid doing so as a Bangladesh player.

“It is your right as a person to be on social media, to say what you want on social media. But as an international player, as a national player for Bangladesh, my players should not be on there,” Phil Simmons said.

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Afghanistan selectors, on Wednesday, rested Rashid Khan for the one-off Test in Zimbabwe later this month, but the ace spinner will lead the T20I squad.

The 27-year-old had back surgery in 2023, and selectors want to keep him fit for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“Rashid will be rested for the Test as a precaution for the upcoming international events, mainly the World Cup,” said the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

The Test match will be played from October 20 to 24, while the three T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2, all in Harare.

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The squad includes some fresh faces who have done well at the domestic level.

Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad, who recently made appearances in ODIs and T20Is for Afghanistan, is in the Test squad.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Test team. Since gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played just 11 Tests, winning four of them.

Afghanistan Test Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad

Afghanistan T20I Squad

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

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ABU DHABI: Mohammad Nabi’s 62 from just 37 balls, followed by Bilal Sami’s five-wicket haul, powered Afghanistan to a 200-run victory over Bangladesh in the final match of the ODI series here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Set 294, Bangladesh innings folded for 93 in just 27.1 overs, sealing a 3-0 series win for the hosts.

The victory was Afghanistan’s second biggest in terms of margin, with their largest being the 232-run triumph against Zimbabwe.

Set a target of 294, Bangladesh were bowled out for just 93 in 27.1 overs, sealing a 3-0 series win for hosts Afghanistan.

Saif Hassan top-scored with 43 from 54 balls with the aid of two fours and three sixes in an otherwise disappointing performance.

After losing opener Mohammad Naim on the second ball of the eighth over, Bangladesh’s batting lineup slid as Rashid Khan and Bilal Sami combined and took eight wickets between them.

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The Tigers lost wickets at regular intervals with no player crossing double figures apart from Hassan.

Eventually, the visitors were bundled out for the lowest total against Afghanistan in One Day Internationals.

For Afghanistan, Bilal Sami starred with the ball, picking up a maiden five-wicket haul while Rashid Khan supported him well, scalping three wickets in his six overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Afghanistan racked up 293-9 in their 50 overs, courtesy of Ibrahim Zadran’s gutsy knock, followed by a brisk half-century from veteran Nabi in the last phase of the innings.

Zadran made 95 from 111 balls, studded with seven fours and two sixes, whereas Nabi struck five maximums and four boundaries in his knock.

For Bangladesh, Saif Hassan picked up three wickets in his four overs while giving away only six runs.

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ARDIYA: The AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan ended in a 1-1 draw here at the Ali Sabah Al-Salem Stadium on Tuesday.

Afghanistan, hosting the match, started in style with Mahboob Hanifi netting the goal in the fifth minute of the game. However, Pakistan fought back in the 29th courtesy of Etzaz Hussain’s equalizer.

Despite the earlier goals, both teams tried hard but eventually could not score a goal, ending the match in a draw.

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Both teams are winless, with Syria already going through from Group E. Afghanistan and Pakistan’s previous clash, held on October 9 at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, also ended in a goalless draw.

Pakistan had ample chances to pierce the net against the visitors; however, during the 65th minute of the game, Otis Khan missed a vital chance by sending his penalty kick soaring over the bar, midway through the second half, in front of more than 7000 people.

Pakistan has already suffered defeats at the hands of Mayanmar 1-0 in June and 2-0 against Syria in March.

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier will be played in Saudi Arabia.

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football team head coach Nolberto Solano has lauded the national team and their fighting spirit following their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier clash against Afghanistan.

Pakistan ended its eight-match losing streak in a goalless draw with Afghanistan here at the Jinnah Stadium on Thursday.

Pakistan dominated throughout the match; however, Otis Khan missed a vital chance, squandering a penalty in the 65th minute, which denied them all three points at the end of the game

Green Shirts will now travel to Kuwait for the away fixture against Afghanistan on October 14. The winner of the group advances to the tournament finals in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Solano mentioned the delayed arrival and praised the players’ performance, particularly in the second half of the match.

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“First of all, I’m really pleased with the team, with all the boys. With all the small issues we had, especially with some players arriving a little late, it’s not easy,” he told reporters.

But I was very pleased with their attitude today, especially when the players came on in the second half.”

He rued the missed chance and heaped praise on players for showing determination.

“I believe we dominated the match for most parts of the game and were a very solid team. Like the players, I’m disappointed we couldn’t take all three points not just because of the missed penalty, but because we had other chances as well.

Honestly, these guys are doing their best, and I’m proud of them,” Solano continued.

“It’s not easy for these guys traveling 15, 19, or even 20 hours to arrive in Pakistan a day before the match. They didn’t have much time to train together, but I had confidence in them,” he explained.

Nolberto Solano aimed for a strong showing in Pakistan’s next away encounter against Afghanistan while mentioning the pride of players on representing their country.

“We’ll prepare in the same way. We need to check how the boys are physically and mentally after traveling from different parts of the world.

I was very impressed with most of them, especially as it was my first time seeing some of them play. We’ll build on this performance for the next match on Tuesday,” he concluded.

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ISLAMABAD: Otis Khan squandered a penalty as Pakistan ended its eight-match losing streak in a goalless draw with Afghanistan in the AFC Asia Cup 2027 Saudi Arabia qualifiers here at the Jinnah Stadium on Thursday.

The draw split points between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and both are now off the mark in Group E of the Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Pakistan had ample chances to pierce the net against the visitors; however, during the 65th minute of the game, Otis Khan missed a vital chance by sending his penalty kick soaring over the bar, midway through the second half, in front of more than 7000 people.

The Green Shirts will now travel to Kuwait for the away fixture against Afghanistan on October 14. The winner of the group advances to the tournament finals in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan started its campaign having suffered consecutive defeats against Syria and Myanmar. In their opening match played in March, Syria outplayed Pakistan 2-0 at the Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

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Pakistan also faced a 1-0 defeat against Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, a match played in June 2025.

For the unversed, the Afghanistan team arrived in the capital following a delay due to visa issues, which initially put the clash in jeopardy.

The issue was sorted out due to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s who took notice of the issue after it was highlighted.

“Issued now,” Mohsin Naqvi wrote in response to journalist Faizan Lakhani’s post, “Thank you for highlighting it,” Naqvi added.

The delay was caused by the need for clearance for Afghanistan’s overseas players.

Those players and officials who were in Afghanistan managed to obtain their visas to travel to Pakistan. However, those living abroad had to return to Afghanistan to get the necessary clearance.

READ: Asian Cup Qualifiers: Afghanistan team arrives in Pakistan after visa issues resolved