ICC Media Release
Afghanistan and Uganda achieved a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier after recording victories in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Skipper Narooz Mangal inspired a brilliant win by 82 runs over Cayman Islands to hand Afghanistan the Division 3 title, following on from its successive title wins in Jersey in Division 5 and Tanzania in D
ivision 4.
ivision 4.Afghanistan skipper Narooz Mangal was proud of his side and believes that it is capable of finishing in the top four at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
“Today is a very happy day for me as we have won the Division 3 tournament and have qualified for the World Cup Qualifier. It is a very big day in the history of Afganistan cricket,” said Narooz.
“It will be very hard work in South Africa and we will be playing against some very difficult teams but we are all very happy. It was very special to get the Man of the Match Award as my innings was very important for my team but all the team played well. think if we all work very hard in the next few months we have a very good chance of making it to the Cricket World Cup in 2011.”
“Today is a very happy day for me as we have won the Division 3 tournament and have qualified for the World Cup Qualifier. It is a very big day in the history of Afganistan cricket,” said Narooz.
“It will be very hard work in South Africa and we will be playing against some very difficult teams but we are all very happy. It was very special to get the Man of the Match Award as my innings was very important for my team but all the team played well. think if we all work very hard in the next few months we have a very good chance of making it to the Cricket World Cup in 2011.”
The top-order Afghan batting once again failed to score the runs expected at this level with Karim Khan and Ahmad Shah both falling early on to leave Afghanistan at 27-2. A 69-run partnership for the third wicket between Shafiqullah Shafaq (39) and skipper Narooz Mangal then changed the balance of the game, as Afghanistan took advantage of some extremely poor fielding Cayman Islands fielding.
Mangal (70), restored to the side after his two-match ban earlier in the event, looked in excellent form as he played one of the best innings of the event, in what has been a low-scoring tournament, scoring seven fours in his 89-ball batting cameo. Asghar Stanikzai (66 not out) then took control with a brilliantly timed innings, off just 62 balls, completing the innings in style with a six over long-on to give Afghanistan the highest score of the tournament with 230-8 off 50 overs.
In reply, a double strike from Mohammad Nabi in the space of one over left Cayman Islands in all kinds of trouble on 41-3, and he was to take two further wickets to leave him with outstanding figures of 4-23. Hamid Hassan then came on and bowled his best spell of the tournament to date, mixing some aggressive short-pitched bowling with some good straight bowling, including his trademark yorker. Afghanistan was joined in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier by Uganda who achieved an outstanding victory over Argentina by 100 runs.
The fixtures for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa between 1-19 April will be released shortly. The top four sides at that event qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, while a top six place will secure ODI status for the next four years.
And here is a bonus video (Out of the Ashes) for you....Enjoy!
IT IS TARIQ MAQSUDI, AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF AFGHANISTAN TEAM. THEY DO NOT HAVE A GREEN GROUND FOR PARACTICE IN KABUL AND YET THEY HAVE PERFORMED WITH SUCH QUALITY SHOWN THEIR TALENT TO THE WORLD.
ReplyDeleteI AM PROUD OF YOU AFGHANISTAN CRICKET TEAM. I AM SURE WE WILL WIN THE ICC WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS INSHALLAH.
Thank you for posting all this. Great Job! Congratulation to every Afghan.
ReplyDeleteHi, I like this blog very much and it is very informative about Afghans, their lives and activities. The scene you have chosen for this video to apear as the first picture, is very intersting. I like it. Thanks for your posts. Keep the good work up. Best.
ReplyDeleteI, like many other cricket tragics, have been paying attention to the Afghanhi cricketers, and are thrilled at their progress. I would be most impressed if they make it through to the World Cup, and hope that they are able to compete at the highest level. I am curious as to how the average Afghanhi feels about their national squad and the game in general. Also, what other sports are popular? If you can enlighten me on these issues, it would be great. Cheers, Dave
ReplyDeleteI really proud the afghan cricket team they really good team i am following them in south africa they beat denmark and oman our team is the best we gona be in 2011 world cup.
ReplyDeleteIt is Fazalullah Stanikzai..
ReplyDeleteSurprised.. Really Proud Of Our Afghan Cricket Team... Tal De We Sar Lawarai Zamong Gran Hewad Afghanistan. By putting more effort and encouraging our team players Inshalah with out any doubt we will be the best in 2011 World Cup.