Six rounds of league games done and dusted, we are yet to have a team to confirm their semifinal spot or book their return tickets. The current top four, who have settled in those spots for at least a week, are well placed to go through to the semis with enough buffer with the six…
Afghanistan's dream World Cup campaign got even better on Monday (October 30) in Pune as they defeated Sri Lanka comfortably for their third win of the tournament. Having already defeated England which was then followed by a famous win over Pakistan in Chennai, Afghanistan have now mathematically kept themselves in contention for a semifinal spot…
The clinical dismantling of Pakistan or England, which would you call bigger? The former happened in Chennai, on an easy-paced wicket as Afghanistan coasted to victory, going past Pakistan's total of 282 with an over to spare and 8 wickets in hand. Eight days before that, Afghanistan had pulled off the first upset of this…
It was a long night for the residents of Khost province in Afghanistan. They were in a celebratory mood. The sky was illuminated with fireworks and gunshots as Afghans indulged in revelry. "I have never seen such celebrations in my lifetime," says Noor Ali Zadran (35). "That was the mood in Kabul and the entire…
The special bond between Chennai and the Pakistan team is well-documented. The passionate Chepauk crowd, well known for their appreciation of quality cricket, lived up to their reputation when Babar Azam's team played on Monday. However, by the end of the day, they may have discovered a new favourite team - Afghanistan.
Long after the…
Jonathan Trott, the former England batter, is aware of the excitement and rivalry that a Pakistan-Afghanistan cricket contest brings. However, the Afghanistan head coach wants to tone it down to the practicality of the job at hand.
In a span of a few minutes, he switches from, "It's a rivalry that excites them. I think…
After a near-perfect day against England, Afghanistan's World Cup campaign came crashing down through a massive 149-run defeat to New Zealand in Chennai on Wednesday (October 18). Chasing a competitive target of 289, the innings never took for Afghanistan batters were unable to cope with the new ball that moved around under lights. The spinners…
"The atmosphere in Kabul was like..."
Having previously worked as the head of media operations with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, words usually come easy to Hikmat Hassan. But not this time. Not when he's speaking in the aftermath of Afghanistan's historic win over England in the ongoing World Cup.
"It was like... Eid night," Hikmat…
The first-ever encounter between Afghanistan and New Zealand at the World Cup level turned out to be a rather one-sided affair. Opting to bat first at the McLean Park, Afghanistan never really got going and quickly found themselves in the doldrums at 59 for 6. Half-centuries from Samiullah Shenwari (110-ball 54) and Najibullah Zadran (56-ball…
A historic victory for Afghanistan against England, only their second win in the World Cup, will give immense confidence to the team and will 'have a knock-on effect' for the team in 50-over cricket competing against the other sides, not only in the 2023 edition but beyond that as well, according to head coach Jonathan…