Tag: Afghanistan

SHARJAH: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha’s reaction went viral on social media after Afghanistan were touted as Asia’s second-best team ahead of the opening match of the triangular series.

The incident happened during a joint press conference by the captains of the tri-series participating teams.

During the question-and-answer session, the Afghanistan captain was asked by the reporter about their plans for the upcoming fixtures while praising them as the second-best team in Asia on the back of their strong showing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

However, the reporter’s question took Salman Ali Agha by surprise, which was visible from his facial expressions.

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Following the press conference, Agha reaction went viral with fans sharing their thoughts on social media.

For context, Pakistan will play Afghanistan in the tri-series opener tomorrow at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The T20I series will be played from August 29 to September 7 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

This series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 7 September – Final – 7pm local time

READ: Pakistan team moving in right direction, says Salman Ali Agha ahead of tri-series opener

SHARJAH: The trophy for the T20I tri-series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was unveiled here on Thursday.

The trophy unveiling ceremony took place at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium and was attended by Salman Ali Agha, the captain of Pakistan, along with Rashid Khan from Afghanistan and Muhammad Waseem from the UAE.

The T20I series will be played from 29 August to 7 September at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the UAE.

This series will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from 9 to 28 September.

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It’s worth noting that initially, Pakistan were slated to host Afghanistan in a bilateral series in August.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) floated the idea of turning the contest into a tri-nation event and shifting it to the UAE, a move aimed at helping players adapt to the conditions ahead of the Asia Cup.

The opening match of the tri-series tournament will be played between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday, 29 August, with the first ball to be bowled at 7:00 pm local time.

Each team will play the others twice, giving all sides at least four matches before the top two teams qualify for the final, scheduled on 7 September.

Tri-series schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium)

• 29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
• 1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
• 4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
• 7 September – Final – 7pm local time

READ: Hasan Nawaz sets sights on India clash in Asia Cup 2025

KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) named a 17-member squad on Wednesday for the forthcoming triangular series against Pakistan and hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The series is slated to be contested in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.

The ace all-rounder Rashid Khan will lead the side ahead of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 with only one change from their squad for the marquee event.

Pacer Naveen ul Haq has been replaced with uncapped pacer Abdullah Ahmadzai. Fazalhaq Farooqi will lead the pace attack comprising Farid Malik and Karim Janat.

Meanwhile, the formidable spin department will be led by Rashid Khan, with the likes of experienced Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, alongside the young talents of Noor Ahmad and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.

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Notably, mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar will be in line to make his debut in the series.

The batting lineup will be bolstered by batters Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, with Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, and Sediqullah Atal.

For the uninitiated, Afghanistan will kick off their tri-series campaign against Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament on Friday, August 29, before taking on the hosts, the UAE, on September 1.

Afghanistan squad for UAE tri-series

Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Schedule for T20I Tri-Series in UAE

29 August – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time
30 August – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time
1 September – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
2 September – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time
4 September – Pakistan v UAE – 7 pm local time
5 September – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time
7 September – Final – 7 pm local time

READ: Babar, Rizwan not suited for T20 cricket, says former Pakistan coach

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) have unveiled a 15-member squad, led by skipper Muhammad Waseem, for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Sharjah featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The series, running from August 29 to September 7, will act as a tune-up for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, which kicks off in the UAE on September 9.

Compared to their previous campaign in Uganda’s Pearl of Africa Cup, where they fell short in the final against the hosts, the UAE have expanded their squad from 14 to 15 players.

Four fresh faces, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, and Muhammad Jawadullah, have been drafted in, while Akif Raja, Matiullah Khan, and Zuhaib Zubair miss out this time.

The nucleus of the side remains unchanged, with the experienced Waseem supported by Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, and Rahul Chopra.

Rising talents such as Muhammad Zohaib, the UAE’s standout batter in Uganda, and all-rounder Saghir Khan also retain their places.

Former India opener Lalchand Rajput will continue as head coach.

The UAE will begin their campaign against Pakistan on August 30, before facing Afghanistan on September 1, Pakistan again on September 4, and Afghanistan on September 5.

The final is set for September 7, just two days before the Asia Cup gets underway, where the UAE will share a group with India, Oman, and Pakistan.

It’s worth noting that the squad for the ACC Asia Cup 2025 will be announced separately.

UAE squad for T20I tri-series

Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Saghir Khan.

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Afghanistan is set to host Bangladesh in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a white-ball series in October following the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025.

The two teams are set to play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) scheduled to take place in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, as confirmed by the both cricket boards.

The opening match of the T20I series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh is scheduled for October 2, with the ODI matches to begin on October 8.

Following the announcement, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) CEO Naseeb Khan shared his thoughts on the forthcoming series.

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“We are proud to host Bangladesh in this highly anticipated series. This tour highlights the strength of our partnership and our commitment to delivering world-class cricket experiences, even at neutral venues,” he said.

“Fans can look forward to exciting matches and top-level competition,” he added.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury also expressed excitement, stressing the relationship between the two cricketing boards.

“We look forward to competing against Afghanistan in what promises to be a competitive and thrilling white-ball series in the UAE. This tour not only provides valuable competition after the Asia Cup but also reflects the mutual respect and strong relationship between our boards,” he said.

“We sincerely thank the Afghanistan Cricket Board for hosting the series,” he concluded.

For context, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are included in Group B of the Asia Cup, alongside Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, which is set to begin on September 9.

Afghanistan and Bangladesh will face off on September 16 in Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan Bangladesh Series Schedule:

First T20 – October 2 – Sharjah
Second T20 – October 3 – Sharjah
Third T20 – October 5 – Sharjah
First ODI- October 8 – Abu Dhabi
Second ODI – October 11 – Abu Dhabi
Third ODI – October 14 – Abu Dhabi

READ: Shadab Khan provides fitness update ahead of Asia Cup 2025

KABUL: The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has announced a 22-member preliminary squad for their upcoming T20I assignments, the tri-nation series against Pakistan and hosts UAE, followed by the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025.

As per the ACB’s official statement, the Rashid Khan-led squad will undergo a two-week training and preparation camp, after which the final 15-member squad for both events will be finalized.

Afghanistan’s T20I tri-series campaign will kick off on August 29 in Sharjah with a curtain-raiser against Pakistan.

The tri-series, scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7, will be held entirely at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and will see each team face the others twice, culminating in the final on September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

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It offers all three participating sides, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE, a valuable chance to adapt to conditions ahead of the continental event.

Interestingly, Pakistan and Afghanistan were originally slated to play a bilateral series in August.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed converting it into a tri-nation tournament to enhance preparations for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup 2026.

The preliminary squad of Afghanistan features several familiar names, including seniors Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, alongside emerging talents like Wafiullah Tarakhil, Mohammad Ishaq, and Nangyal Kharoti.

Afghanistan Preliminary Squad for Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025

Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Farid Malik, Saleem Safi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad.

Tri-Series Schedule (All matches in Sharjah, 7pm local time):

August 29 – Afghanistan vs Pakistan

August 30 – UAE vs Pakistan

September 1 – UAE vs Afghanistan

September 2 – Pakistan vs Afghanistan

September 4 – Pakistan vs UAE

September 5 – Afghanistan vs UAE

September 7 – Final

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The proposed tri-nation T20I series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly in its final stages, with an official announcement expected following today’s Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting.

According to sources, key discussions around the series are set to take place on the sidelines of the ACC sessions, where the proposed schedule and venues will be finalised.

The tri-series is likely to be staged in the UAE ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup.

It’s worth noting that initially, Pakistan were slated to host Afghanistan in a bilateral series this August.

However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) floated the idea of turning the contest into a tri-nation event and shifting it to the UAE, a move aimed at helping players acclimate to the conditions there before the Asia Cup.

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For the unversed, today’s ACC Annual General Meeting (AGM), being held in Bangladesh, has seen strong participation from across the region.

Out of 25 member nations, 24 have confirmed attendance, comfortably crossing the required quorum of 13, in what’s being viewed as a significant diplomatic win for ACC President Mohsin Naqvi.

Despite initial reservations from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), and Oman Cricket regarding the venue, Naqvi’s efforts ensured that the meeting would proceed as scheduled in Dhaka.

Notably, India is participating virtually, with BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla expected to attend the session online.

READ: Rishabh Pant taken off field after freak foot injury in Manchester Test

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has increased its support for displaced women cricketers of Afghanistan to help them return to play.

Most were forced into exile when the Taliban regained power in 2021 and then effectively outlawed women from playing sport.

Many fled to Australia and held a match — without their official crest — in Melbourne earlier this year.

The ICC’s annual conference in Singapore at the weekend heard that progress had been made on the governing body’s Afghanistan women’s cricket initiative.

“The programme aims to deliver structured support,” the ICC said in a statement late Sunday.

It includes “domestic playing opportunities, and engagement at key ICC global events, including the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England,” the statement continued, without giving details.

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But reports said it will enable Afghanistan women players the chance to speak to fellow international cricketers and attend workshops conducted by coaches at the global showpieces.

The initiative is a collaborative effort by the cricket boards of India, England, and Australia under the supervision of ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja.

Moreover, the ICC also announced that England will host the upcoming editions of the World Test Championship (WTC) final until 2031.

The decision to hand over the hosting rights to England was made in light of the successful hosting of previous editions of the WTC finals.

England has previously hosted the inaugural 2021 edition, as well as the 2023 and 2025 editions.

For the unversed, South Africa is the current holder of the ICC WTC title, having defeated the defending champions Australia in the final held at the iconic Lord’s in the previous month.

READ: Pakistani-origin Italy batter Zain Naqvi reveals his cricketing idols

Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan has revealed the timeline for the national team’s journey toward winning an ICC trophy.

During a podcast with former Australian captain Michael Clarke, Rashid shared insights about his cricket career and his love for the game.

When asked about when Afghanistan will win an ICC trophy, Rashid expressed optimism about the national team’s journey, recalling crucial moments from marquee events.

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“I think that kind of belive is there and I always have that, ” he said.

Rashid, who is currently playing for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reflected on the 2024 T20 World Cup, mentioning that something significant was about to happen.

“The 2024 World Cup was something I already anticipated; unfortunately, things did not work out as they should have,” Rashid Khan recalled.

Rashid Khan highlighted the defeat against South Africa in the semi-final while revealing the timeline for the glory.

“The T20 World Cup, we went to the West Indies and we played against the best side South Africa, but we are not too far, I feel, the bunch of talent we have and the youngsters coming up.”

“There are couple of areas you work and I think we are not far away from any good side to defeat them,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that Afghanistan were bundled for a meage playing their first-ever semi-final of a World Cup in any format, bundled for a meagre 56 runs in the first innings and succumbed to a humiliating nine-wicket against South Africa.

It is worth mentioning that in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Afghanistan, playing in their first-ever World Cup semi-final in any format, succumbed to a humiliating nine-wicket defeat against South Africa.

READ: PSL 10: Mohammad Rizwan penalized for code of conduct breach against Islamabad United

LAHORE: Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing XIs

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

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