Cricket: Afghanistan
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History
1839; 1995-2017
From: May 27, 2018: The Times of India
From: May 27, 2018: The Times of India
See graphics:
Afghanistan, cricket- some facts- 1839-2017- Part-I
Afghanistan, cricket- some facts- 1839-2017- Part-II
1995-2019 May
Vivek Krishnan , June 1, 2019: The Times of India
THE RISE AND RISE OF AFGHANISTAN
As Afghanistan brace up for their opening encounter of the 2019 World Cup against Australia, it can be easy to overlook how far the men from the war-torn nation have traversed in a short span of time. Vivek Krishnan chronicles their progress
1995: Formation of the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
2001: Elected as an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
2009: Made their debut in ODI cricket. Up against Scotland, they registered a comprehensive 89-run victory.
2010: Qualified for the World T20 in the Caribbean, their first highprofile global tournament. They lost both their matches but not before getting the exposure of playing against some of their heroes from India and South Africa.
2012: Played their first ODI against a full member of the ICC when they took on Pakistan in a one-off match at Sharjah.
2013: Became an associate member of the ICC.
2015: Played their maiden 50-over World Cup. They made their World Cup debut against Bangladesh in Canberra, while their first win in the tournament came against Scotland in Dunedin. During the year, they also entered the top-10 of the ODI rankings for the first time.
2016: Beat eventual champions West Indies in the World T20 in a group game in Nagpur.
2017: Granted full membership of the ICC along with Ireland. They also defeated the West Indies in the same year, marking the first instance of them getting the better of a top-eight side.
2018: They made the cut for the 2019 World Cup after winning the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe. They also made their Test debut against India in Bengaluru. During the Asia Cup in UAE, they defeated Sri Lanka and tied a game with India.
2019: Notched up their maiden Test victory, beating Ireland in Dehradun. TNN
Afghanistan versus Sri Lanka: WCC 2015
Feb 23 2015
Mahela Bursts Afghan Bubble
Former Captain scores ton to rescue SL from 51-4
Put into bat, Afghanistan lost both openers by the 10th over. But Stanikzai and Shenwari added 88 for the third wicket. They were hopeful of putting up 250-plus but could score just 10 runs in batting powerplay.
Sri Lanka's chase got off to a disastrous start as they lost Dilshan and Thirimanne for first ball ducks. Sanga followed soon and at 51-4, a major upset was on cards. Mahela brought in all his experience and scored a ton to stabilise things.
Angelo Mathews and Mahela both departed in quick succession though to put the Afghans back on track. But Thisara Perera's big-hitting skills came in handy as the burly all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 47 in 26 balls to see the 1996 champs home.
1 Number of times in WC both openers have got out for first-ball ducks.Thirimanne, Dilshan registered the dubious feat
10 Number of runs Afghanistan scored in the batting powerplay, losing two wickets. Four of those runs came through wides.
1075 Runs by Mahela in WC, the 4th Lankan after Sanath, De Silva and Sanga to score 1000 runs.
2015: Won ODI against Zimbabwe
The Times of India, Oct 26 2015
Prasad RS
Win hasn't sunk in yet, says Nabi
Afghan skipper is `relieved' after first win over test-playing nation
They come from a war-torn nation where playing sport is a luxury, but that has not stopped the Afghanistan cricket team from expressing themselves every time they take the field. In Oct 2015 in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe was no different as the Afghans not only defended a target of 245 to seal the ODI series 3-2, they became the first associate nation to beat a Full Member country . While the entire team understandably celebrated the win, their feat was acknowledged by numerous fans back in Kabul. For man-of-the-series Mohammed Nabi, the historic-win marked a new chapter in Afghanistan's short cricketing history . Nabi has been part of all the 56 ODIs for the Afghans so far.
2016
Afghanistan beats Zimbabwe to claim ODI series
The Times of IndiaJan 08 2016
Sharjah
Stun Zimbabwe To Claim ODI Series
Gulbadin Naib hit a career best, undefeated 82 as Afghanistan defeated Zimbabwe by two wickets to win the fifth ODI and take the series 32.
With the win, Afghanistan managed to retain their place in the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings. They had broken into the top-10 after their 49-run win in the first match of the tournament, but had to win the series to retain their place.
This is the second time Afghanistan have won a series against a Test-playing nation.They had beaten Zimbabwe by the same margin in Oct 2015.
T20: Beat West Indies
The Economic Times, 27 Mar, 2016
Afghanistan create history, beat West Indies in World T20
Minnows Afghanistan scripted history as they defeated 2012 champions West Indies by 6 runs in their final group league encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 here to sign off on a memorable note.
West Indies failed to surpass a target of 124 as the Associate nation were able to restrict them to 117 for eight.
The defeat does not change anything in final equations as West Indies have already qualified for the semi-finals and also maintained their pole position in the table. They will play their semi-final in Mumbai.
The story of the day, however, was all about the talented Afghan boys, who have impressed one and all with their spirited display so far in the tournament.
After a string of close losses, the Afghans kept their calm on today to beat a much-fancied West Indies side, who looked formidable even in the absence of Chris Gayle.
There were emotional scenes all around after Afghanistan completed the formalities, prompting West Indian star Chris Gayle, who was rested from today's game, to congratulate them and even pose for pictures with the victorious team.
Afghanistan scored 123/7 in 20 overs after being put into bat. Najibullah Zadran's 40-ball-48 studded with four boundaries and a six was the reason for them reaching a fighting total after being down at 56 for five.
In reply, the Afghan bowlers maintained a disciplined line and length.
It was heartening to see skipper Asghar Stanikzai toss up the ball to off-spinner Mohammed Nabi with West Indies needing 10 runs off the last over.
Afghan cricket, 2009- 2017
From The Times of India
See graphic above.
2017
June 2017/ Granted Test status
THE TEAM HAS TAKEN LONG STRIDES WITH RECENT WINS OVER BANGLADESH AND WEST INDIES IN ODIS
The Afghanistan Cricket Board was formed in 1995 and the country became an affiliate member of the ICC in 2001. Who would have thought that they would have gained ICC's full membership and Test status within 16 years? They have also been among the game's fastest learners.
In recent times, Afghanistan have become the best among the minnows of world cricket. Even against Zimbabwe, a Test playing nation, they have an 11-8 ODI record.Against Bangladesh, they are 2-3.Earlier this month, captain Asghar Stanikzai's men shocked the West Indies at home carving out a handsome 63 run victory at St Lucia.
Leg spinner Rashid Khan produced one of the most eye-popping spells in the history of ODIs: seven for 18. At least, Khan can waltz into India's Test team.
There is a reason why Sunrisers Hyderabad paid Rs 4 crore for him; he went on to become the sixth highest wicket taker in IPL 10.
War has been Afghanistan's curse. Strangely, it was conflict that gave cricket to Afghanistan. The USSR invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 which lasted nearly a decade created millions of refugees in the bordering areas of Pakistan. The immigrants kept coming and going for decades. Many of them were seduced by cricket. Later, as they returned home, the game struck root even in the country's interiors.
The Test matches are likely to be played in Shaheed Vijay Singh Sports Complex in Greater Noida, Afghanistan's official home ground.
November 2017/ Win under-19 Asia Cup title
Afghanistan claim maiden Under-19 Asia Cup title, November 20, 2017: The Times of India
Afghanistan thrashed Pakistan in the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup to register a historic triumph and lift the title at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur, reports cricbuzz-.com. Chasing 248, Pakistan were trounced by 185 runs as they folded for 63.
Pakistan just couldn’t recover from the early punches Mujeeb Zadran landed. The pacer nipped out the openers - Mohammad Arif (4) and Omair Yousuf (0) - inside the fourth over to leave Pakistan wobbling 11for 2. Things just went pear shaped for them from there on 32 for 4.
Mohammad Taha hung around for 38 deliveries, scoring 19, but failed to find partners to bat around him. Qais Ahmad ended Taha's resistance and the a lower order failed to come to terms with the constant pressure.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 248-7 in 50 overs (Ikram Ali Khil 107) beat Pakistan 63 in 22.1 overs (Mujeeb Zadran 5-13) by 185 runs.
Home ground in Dehradun
2018: the beginning
Cricket diplomacy: Doon to be Af team’s new home, June 14, 2018: The Times of India
From the Hindu Kush to the Himalayan foothills, Afghanistan cricket has just found a new home. Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, will serve as the home ground of the Afghanistan cricket team according to an understanding which New Delhi and Kabul have arrived at, government sources said.
Afghanistan recently acquired test status and will play its first test match against India in Bangalore on June 14-18. Afghanistan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will be the chief guest for the event.
Afghanistan recently played a T 20 series against Bangladesh in Dehradun. The same stadium, official sources said, has been lent to Afghanistan to serve as its official home ground where it can host international matches.
India is hoping that this piece of cricket diplomacy will help it earn more goodwill with the Afghan people at a time there is increasing uncertainty not just about the political situation in Kabul but also India’s role in it.
As government officials here said, India has been associated with the development of cricket in Afghanistan since 2001 when Afghanistan joined ICC. In 2015, India allowed the Afghan cricket team to shift base to Greater Noida from Shariah. However, now with Afghanistan qualified to play test matches, the Indian government realised it was important for their team to have its own exclusive cricket stadium which would host their international matches.
“Most of the Afghan players have received training from Indian coaches in their formative years. India had also helped in construction of cricket stadiums and grounds in Afghanistan, like in Kandahar,” said an official.
Unlike Pakistan cricketers, Afghan players like Rashid Khan and Mohammed Nabi feature regularly in IPL and even have a fan following here. The Indian establishment is investing in Afghan cricket as it believes the game can act as a unifying force in a country otherwise torn apart by politics of ethnicity.
According to another understanding reached last month, all teams touring India will now play one practice game against Afghanistan, an arrangement which will provide international exposure to the team.
2018
Tests
Afghanistan loses first test to India
HIGHLIGHTS
Afghanistan were bowled out for 103 in their 2nd dig after following on
India recorded their biggest ever innings victory
This was India's first ever Test win inside two days
Had this historic Test match been a bout of heavyweight boxing, Afghanistan's players would have been peeling themselves off the canvas and heading to the infirmary. They will carry the scars of this rout, but one hopes - in the interests of cricket's well-being - not for long.
All it took for India to wrap up another Test victory at home was 66.3 overs and 290 minutes after lunch on the second day. India's innings and 262-run win margin will be remembered as will Afghanistan's abject capitulation. It was only the fourth instance when a Test team has been dismissed twice in a day - in Afghanistan's case over less than two sessions.
The visiting team, who came dressed in their festive best on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr before slipping into white flannels, didn't have much to celebrate in the end.
Replying to India's first innings tally of 474 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Afghanistan mustered 109 in their first essay. Their second essay, after being asked to follow-on, was similar - 103 runs. However, one must remember that South Africa made only 84 in the first innings of their first Test against England way back in 1889.
It wasn't the only positive for Afghanistan. They did eject a formidable Indian batting line-up in about four sessions and they did show glimpses - albeit too fleeting - of what it takes to see off time in a Test match when Asghar Stanikzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi put on 37 for the fifth wicket in the second innings. Stanikzai undid all the hard work with an incredibly extravagant attempt of a hoist. In time, hopefully, the skipper will learn.
The virtue of patience and preparedness to wear down opposition bowlers is one of the hardest lessons Afghanistan will have to imbibe from this game. There was little in terms of footwork and even less in intent of rotating the strike too. But then, they are a team that is only one Test match - nay just two days - old.
India's bowlers were too quick and skillful for this inexperienced side. Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav returned match hauls four each, while spin combo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja finished with five and six wickets respectively.
The Afghans began to unravel in the fourth over of their first innings when a direct hit from Pandya at point sent back sauntering opener Mohammad Shahzad. Thus, began the visitors parade back to the pavilion with only Mohammad Nabi putting up a fighting 24 (44b, 4x4).
In the second essay, the only two players who returned decent numbers were Sahidi (36 n.o, 88b, 4x6) and Stanikzai (25, 58, 4x4, 1x6).
Ashwin completed the formalities in the extended hour, cleaning up Wafadar's middle stump.
Earlier, starting at an overnight score of 347/6, India added 127 runs in 26.5 overs, losing four wickets in the process. Overnight batsman Ashwin (18, 39b, 1x4) did not extend his stay at the crease for long. Wicketkeeper Ahmad Zazai pouched a Yamin Ahmadzai delivery edged by Ashwin.
The pacer could have accounted for Ravindra Jadeja in the next ball, but first Zazai and then skipper Stanikzai, at first slip, failed to hold on to a catch, which ensured a 67-run eight-wicket partnership between Hardik Pandya and Jadeja. In the meanwhile, Pandya helped himself to a half-century (71, 94b, 10x4).
During his 130 minutes stay at the creases, Pandya wasn't his flamboyant self. Instead, he played a measured and mature innings. He patiently waited for the loose balls to be put away. Hardik's vigil ended when he gifted a catch to Zazai off Wafadar.
Before India wrapped up the innings, the last man in -Umesh Yadav- who was cheered on vivaciously by the crowd for his Royal Challengers Bangalore connection-entertained with a 21-ball 26 which included two maximums and an equal number of fours.
Umesh's blitz set the tone for the domination of the Indian bowlers for the rest of the day.
Brief Scores: India 474 (Shikhar Dhawan 107, Murali Vijay 105 ) beat Afghanistan (109 & 103) by an innings and 262 runs
2019
Bangladesh series
Test matches
Rashid gives a stunning victory
Sep 10, 2019: The Times of India
Rashid Khan claimed 6-49 and completed his maiden 10-wicket haul as Afghanistan defied rain and fading light to beat Bangladesh by a massive 224 runs in the oneoff Test in Chittagong.
Rashid grabbed three of the remaining four wickets as Afghanistan took 17.2 overs on the fifth day to bowl out Bangladesh for 173 in the second innings after the hosts resumed with 136-6.
Play started on the fifth day in the afternoon after rain wiped out the first session. It returned in abundance after the visitors bowled just 2.1 overs without being able to inflict any damage on the home side.
Play resumed again after about three hours and Afghanistan were given 18.3 overs to bowl out Bangladesh, which was chasing a target of 398 runs. Left-arm chinaman Zahir Khan dismissed overnight batsman Shakib Al Hasan in the first ball after the resumption, dealing a serious blow to the home side.
Afsar Zazai took a sharp catch behind the stump to remove Shakib for 44 and then Rashid did the rest.
BRIEF SCORES: Afghanistan 342 & 260 beat Bangladesh 205 & 173 (Shakib 44, Shadman 41, Rashid 6-49) . AFP
2023
World Cup
Afghanistan made history in the 2023 Cricket World Cup by beating Pakistan by eight wickets. This was the first time Afghanistan beat Pakistan in ODIs. The match was played at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium .
Afghanistan chased down 283 runs in 49 overs, with six balls to spare. This was their highest successful chase in ODIs.
The man of the match was Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 87 off 113 balls.
Afghanistan also beat England by 69 runs. Rashid Khan continued his attack in the 41st over, as England were 9 down while chasing a target of 285 runs. England were all out at 215 runs in 40.3 overs.
Afghanistan is the hero of the World Cup
Avijit Ghosh, Nov 10, 2023: The Times of India
Salar Sayed doesn't want to talk. "I am heartbroken right now," says the Kabul-born ticketing agent sitting behind his Lajpat Nagar desk in south Delhi. It's the noon after Afghanistan lost to Australia in the World Cup, and Afghan expatriates like him are still in mourning. They are agonising over the dropped catches, the lbw decision that DRS overturned, the slivers of luck that didn't come their way.
With the Aussies tottering at 91/7 and another 200 to get, the improbable was ready to happen till a preternatural GlennMaxwell turned batting into a video game. Sometimes success is like water running through the fingers: you can only touch it but not grasp it.The anguish is understandable. The gut-wrenching loss aside, Afghanistan is the story and the hero of the 2023 World Cup. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi's men scalped England, setting the defending champion on a slide like never before. They swept aside 1996 winner Sri Lanka. And they spanked Pakistan for the first time in ODIs. The triumph sparked street dancing in the quake-wounded nation. With Pakistan forcing out lakhs of Afghan refugees recently, the celebrations were political too. "Beating Pakistan was our World Cup," says Sayed.
POLITICAL STROKES
Politics and cricket have always gone hand in hand in the strife-torn country. The game was first played there by British soldiers during the first Anglo-Afghan war in 1839. But the country took to the sport more recently. Many learnt it in frontier refugee camps of Pakistan after the 1979 Soviet invasion. And again, during the first round of Taliban rule (1996-2001) that prompted more fleeing. When the refugees returned, they brought the game with them. "The Taliban let us play cricket if we followed Sharia law. You were okay if you had a beard and prayed on time," recalls former captain Nawroz Mangal in the documentary, "Out of the Ashes", a fascinating account of the team's WC qualifiers in 2008.
QUICK LEARNERS
Afghanistan's swift rise in cricket is incredible and heartwarming. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) was set up in 1995. But the game leapt into the popular imagination in the last decade or so. In ODIs, it is currently ranked 9 - one above the two-time champions West Indies. Their reputation grew after a series of unlikely T20 wins, such as beating eventual champions the West Indies in the 2016 World Cup and overcoming Pakistan in the Hangzhou Asian Games this year. But the wins at the ongoing ODI WC, including those against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, underline that Afghanistan has truly arrived in white-ball cricket. This is Afghanistan 2.0.
The mushrooming of T20 leagues globally, where Afghanistan's best ply their craft, has aided this elevation. In a country where, not long ago, bomb blasts and rocket attacks were part of everyday life, cricket isn't just a balm for miseries or a booster of national pride; it is also a rare provider of positive role models and a genuine avenue of upward social mobility. Take the case of Noor Ahmad. Only 18, his left arm wrist spin has earned plaudits and millions in T20 Leagues in India, Australia, the Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and elsewhere.
The domestic infrastructure is improving. The ACB website shows cricket grounds coming up in seven places, including Khost and Kandahar. The domestic league shows the game's increasing expansion. As per the 2022 ACB annual report, for instance, the Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan Provincial Grade II Tournament was played between 29 provincial teams. The event was conducted across three venues involving 485 players. Shafiq Sayedi from Herat, who's earned a PhD in international law, says that while earlier the game was mostly played by Pashtoons, now Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks too have taken to it.
INDIA A MENTOR
Pakistan's cricket board played a vital part in helping early Afghan cricket. In recent years, India has played a major role. Cricketers such as Rashid Khan, Mohd Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad, Naveen ul Haq - have all honed their skills in IPL. When Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Rashid for Rs 4 crore in 2017, it immediately became the favourite IPL team of Afghans. India has 13,078 registered refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan, as per UNHCR 2023 statistics. Greater Noida, Dehradun and Lucknow have served as Afghanistan's home grounds.
STAR FROM NANGARHAR
Now Rashid is a superstar in world cricket. He was key to Gujarat Titans' IPL triumph last year. Back home, the cricketer from Nangarhar province is everybody's idol. Rashid has 8.6 million followers on Instagram. One of them is 28-yearold Samir Saifi, a waiter in Afghan Darbar, a restaurant in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi. "He is our biggest star," says Saifi, who's from Kunduz in north Afghanistan. When Australia withdrew from a series protesting Taliban's anti-women policies, Rashid threatened to pull out of BBL, Australia's version of IPL. "Cricket the only hope for the country. Keep politics out of it," he posted. On X, where Rashid has 1.9 million followers, he crowd sourced over £41,000 in donations for the recent Herat earthquake victims. "Our team is on the ground assisting victims," he said.
In Tuesday's game against Australia, Rashid was at his swashbuckling best, blitzing 35 off 18 balls and taking 2/44 off 10 overs. As the evening unfolded, Afghanistan was in dreamland. A majority at Wankhede and the rest of India rooted for captain Shahidi and his inspired men. Until Maxwell produced the greatest white-ball innings of all time.
Now Afghanistan's future hinges on run-rate and miracles. Saifi wants to know the possibilities for a place in the semis. But like others, he is happy that the team gave its 100%. "We will win the World Cup someday," he hopes.
Hope matters. As Andy tells his friend Red in The Shawshank Redemption, (1994), "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
Victory over Pakistan
Dwaipayan Datta, Oct 24, 2023: The Times of India
From: Dwaipayan Datta, Oct 24, 2023: The Times of India
Chennai : It doesn’t matter if they don’t make the semifinals — the 2023 World Cup will always be remembered for the beautiful dream that the warriors of a bruised and battered nation lived. From Ball 1 to the 49th over of their innings, when they notched up the eight-wicket win, every Afghan player chipped in. They were determined not to get distracted by the shadow of the close defeats they had suffered against Pakistan in recent times. There was an aura of positive intent about every step that they took and their first ODI win against the neighbours all but shuts out Pakistan hopes of a semifinal berth.
283 was not an easy chase on a Chepauk pitch that had something in it for the spinners. Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran knew that if they had to make a match of it, they would have to produce a substantial opening partnership. While Gurbaz has IPL experience and came here on the back of a matchwinning effort against England, Zadran had been struggling for form. But on Monday, they well and truly delivered as a duo.
Gurbaz (65 off 53 balls) was the aggressor and Zadran (87 off 113 balls) kept rotating the strike, never missing a chance to get the boundary when an opportunity arose. Their job was made easier by the Pakistan attack, which failed to make any impression with the new ball. While Shaheen Afridi hardly ever got his lethal inswinger going, the biggest disappointment was Haris Rauf. His skiddy, back of the length deliveries with no variation of pace was hardly a matter of concern for the two openers. Hasan Ali, on the other hand, has come in as a late entrant in place of injured Naseem Shah and he didn’t look the part.
Gurbaz, with the gift of timing that he has, kept finding the gaps with ease as the Pakistan pacers ran out of ideas. Equally disappointing were the two Pakistan leggies Usama Mir and Shadab Khan, who replaced an indisposed leftarm spinner Mohammad Nawaz.
The two leggies lacked the control that Kuldeep Yadav or Adam Zampa have shown in the tournament. There was invariably a short ball on offer from the two spinners every over and both Gurbaz and Zadran didn’t miss a chance to cash in. The partnership of 130 off 21.1 overs had all but taken the game away from Pakistan. But those who have watched Afghanistan lose those tight games to Pakistan in recent times, felt that there could be a twist in the tale when Gurbaz was dismissed.
But Zadran and left-hander Rahmat Shah, coming in at No. 3, soaked in the pressure as the two put up another 60 runs in 12 overs. Gurbaz’s opening assault had ensured that there was no pressure on the asking-rate front and that allowed the two to look for runs without taking too many risks. A tired Zadran got out in the 34th over, nicking Hasan Ali, but the damage had been done by then. The fact that skipper Babar kept taking off his pacers at crucial junctures, hoping that they would be of some use later in the game, only added to Pakistan’s woes. The two spinners Shadab and Mir were pedestrian to put Rahmat and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi under any serious pressure.
While the Afghan batting deserves all the credit for such an outstanding chase, their four-spinner theory also paid dividends. Chinaman Noor Ahmed (3/49), who finally got his chance, was the best of the lot. He was fast through the air, kept hitting the right spots and the likes of Babar and Abdullah Shafique couldn’t create major momentum.
2024
Afghanistan tour of India
T20Is
Mohali, 1st T20I: India wins
Shivam the hot deal on a cold night
Allrounder Cracks Unbeaten 60 As India Subdue Afghanistan In T20I
Hindol.Basu@timesgroup.com
Mohali : One man’s injury is an opportunity for another. As opener Yashasvi Jaiswal woke up with a sore right groin, it opened up a chance for another southpaw Shivam Dube. The Mumbai allrounder made full use of the “lucky break”, batting with poise and intent to score an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls (5x4, 2x6) to lead India to a sixwicket victory over Afghanistan in the first of three T20Is at the IS Bindra Stadium.
To say that proceedings in the middle were cold would be an understatement. It was almost freezing! And yet the players from both teams went about the task at hand with professionalism. The fact that most of them had their hands in their pockets for a better part of the match speaks volumes about the scheduling rolled out by the Indian cricket board. Add to that a dash of low-hanging fog which made the condition even more trying for the players.
Besides Dube’s smart knock, the sight of Rohit Sharma giving a piece of his mind to Shubman Gill after the youngster played a hand in his captain’s run out for duck, was the centre of conversations going around. Gill cut a sorry figure after the tongue lashing from the skipper.
In India’s win, Dube’s support cast was played by the “young brigade” comprising Jitesh Sharma (31 off 20b; 5x4), Tilak Varma (26 off 22b; 2x4, 1x6), and Rinku Singh (16 not out off 9b; 2x4).
Afghanistan would have gained more from their batting stint had they done away with the conservative approach in the initial part of their innings. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (23 off 28b; 2x4, 1x6) was unusually sedate. Skipper Ibrahim Zadran (25 off 22b; 2x4, 1x6) was tad better in his approach, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The Afghan opening pair gave too much respect to Indian new ball bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar. It wasn’t as if the ball was hooping around or seaming. It swung for an over or two, but even after that Gurbaz and Zadran didn’t take the attack to the Indian bowlers. At the end of the Powerplay, Afghanistan had 33 on the board and the opening duo were still at the crease.
This was one of the defining periods of the match. Even 15-20 runs more during the Powerplay would’ve put India under pressure while chasing. Perhaps, the intense cold affected the Afghan batters a bit. As they warmed up into their innings, the fours and sixes started the flow. Both Zadran and Gurbaz hit a maximum each after the first six overs before falling in back-to-back overs. The last 10 overs saw the Afghan batters gather 101 runs. Leading the assault was the experienced Mohammad Nabi (42 off 27b; 2x4, 3x6), who took a special liking to leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi’s oft-repeated wrong-uns. Nabi collected a six and two boundaries off Bishnoi. Nabi then smashed two maximums off Mukesh’s bowling and by the end of the 16th over, it seemed Afghanistan would reach at least 170.
Times View
At night, Mohali temperatures dip to single digits these days. Was it the correct decision to schedule a day-and-night international out there? One is not talking only about players’ comfort, but also of the spectators sitting in the freezing cold under the open sky. Surely those in charge of scheduling are aware how cold and foggy it gets in these parts this time of winter. Wasn’t playing a day game a better option? Or, is it that commercial telecasting interests trump every other consideration?
Indore, 2nd T20I: India wins
From:
THE YASHASVI-SHIVAM SHOW
Rampant Batters Fire India To Easy Win In Second T20I After Axar’s Top Show With Ball
Gaurav.Gupta@timesgroup.com
Indore : It was Makar Sakranti, but the way India’s young batting guns Yashasvi Jaiswal (68, 34b, 5x4, 6x6) and Shivam Dube (63 not out, 32b, 5x4, 4x6) exploded at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday night, it felt like it was Diwali. Coming out all guns blazing during their 92-run partnership for the third wicket in just 42 balls, the lefthanded duo helped India chase down Afghanistan’s 172 by just the 16th over. As many as 26 balls remained when India sealed their six-wicket win in the second T20 here, which saw them wrap up the series 2-0, before the caravan moves to Bangalore for the last T20I. The man who stood out with the ball for India was left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who returned figures of two for 17 in four overs at a venue which is normally a graveyard for bowlers. The ball that castled Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran (8) in the sixth over was an absolute beauty.
Playing his first T20I in 14 months, Virat Kohli took the attack to the bowlers in his free-flowing 16ball 29 which included five fours. However, his 28-ball 57-run partnership with Jaiswal for the second wicket ended when he perished to pacer Naveen-ul-Haq, caught at midoff off a mistimed shot. Thereafter, the 24,000-strong holiday crowd saw a six-hitting competition between two Mumbaikars. Timing the ball wonderfully, the duo struck 10 sixes between them. Opening the bowling, off-spinner Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman went for 32 in his two overs, with his second over going for 19. Brought in for this match, ‘mystery spinner’ Noor Ahmed was carted for 35 in his three overs, while experienced off-spinner Mohammed Nabi was tonked for 30 in his two overs, with Dube blasting three massive sixes as he employed his deadly slog-sweep. Indeed, it was heartwarming to see such clean, effortless six hitting by Jaiswal and Dube in a city which is famous for producing CK Nayudu, India’s first cricket captain, who too was famous for clobbering sixes at will. Returning to the XI after missing the last game due to a groin injury, Jaiswal, who replaced Shubman Gill at the top, sliced the first ball of the innings, from Farooqi, for a four to the off-side, and never looked back. In the third over, he carted Farooqi for two sixes, first over long on, and the second, a ferocious pull over deep mid-wicket. Earlier, in an innings of ebbs and flows, Afghanistan, riding on a fine half-century by Gulbadin Naib and good cameos in the lower order by Mujeeb (21, 9b, 2x4, 2x6) and Karim Janat (20, 10b, 2x4, 1x6) finished at 172 all out -their highest T20I total against India.
Doing well to withstand the Af- ghan onslaught, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, finished as India’s most successful bowler, taking three for 32 in four overs.
Realising that they needed to get a big score on a flat wicket at a ground with small dimensions after they were asked to bat first, Afghanistan kept coming hard at India’s bowlers despite losing wickets at regular intervals. However, the visitors could have been bundled out earlier but for the late dash from Mujeeb, and his 30-run partnership in just 12 balls for the seventh wicket with Janat.
Records
First to score a century in Tests: Rahmat Shah/ 2019
Rahmat Shah steers Afghanistan with historic century
Chittagong: Rahmat Shah on Thursday became the first Afghanistan player to score a century in Test cricket. Rahmat reached the three-figure mark on the opening day of Afghanistan’s only Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. He scored 102 off 187 balls before being dismissed by Nayeem Hasan. Rahmat came into the middle in the 13th over after the dismissal of opener Ihsanullah. He went on to put on a 120-run stand with former skipper Asghar Afghan. He finally crossed the coveted mark with a four off Nayeem Hassan. However, he went for a loose drive off the next ball and got a thick edge that was grabbed by Soumya Sarkar at first slip. At the close of play, Afghanistan were 271 for 5.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 271/5 in 96 overs (Shah 102, Afghan 88 n.o, Zazai 35 n.o; Tajiul 2-73, Nayeem 2-43) vs Bangladesh.
Youngest Test captain: Rashid Khan/ 2019
Rashid becomes youngest Test captain at 20: Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan became the youngest player ever to captain a test team when he led his side in their one-off match against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Thursday. Aged 20 years and 350 days when he walked out for the toss on the first day, Rashid broke a 15-year record held by former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, who was eight days older when he led his side against Sri Lanka in Harare in 2004. Rashid was appointed Afghanistan's captain across all three formats of the game in July
Test cricket
2019: Beat Ireland, register first win in Tests
Beat Ireland, Register First Win In Test, March 19, 2019: The Times of India
Afghanistan registered their first Test victory after Rahmat Shah’s second fifty of the match helped secure their seven-wicket win against Ireland in a one-off contest in Dehradun.
Chasing 147 for the victory, Afghanistan rode a 139-run stand between Shah and Ihsanullah Janat to romp home for a memorable win nine months after their chastening Test debut against India.
After falling two short of becoming Afghanistan’s first-ever Test centurion in their first innings, Shah grinded out an impressive 76, while Janat remained not out on 65.
Afghanistan lost Shah and Mohammad Nabi to back-toback deliveries in a James Cameron-Dow over before Hashmatullah Shahidi smashed the winning boundary to trigger celebrations in the Afghan dressing room.
“It’s a historic day for Afghanistan, for our team and our people,” said the winning captain Asghar Afghan, who made 67 in the first innings.
“We have been playing for a while, we have been playing first-class cricket, so we have that composure.
“The bowlers were very good, Rashid (Khan), Yamin (Ahmadzai). Now we’re going to South Africa for World Cup preparation. We will try our best to play good cricket.”
Ireland were on the backfoot from the opening day when they were bowled out for 172 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Afghanistan responded with a total of 314 all out to secure a healthy first innings lead.
In-form Andrew Balbirnie top-scored with 82 in a much-improved second-innings batting display from Ireland but leg-spinner Rashid Khan’s maiden five-wicket haul restricted them to 288 all out. Both Ireland and Afghanistan were playing their second-ever Test since being awarded a full member status in 2017.
