Afghanistan qualify for ICC World Twenty20 tournament

[hnuter555]

Congs to all afghan brothers and sisters of this forum good luck for future

Afghanistan earned the right to take on the leading cricket nations at the ICC World Twenty20 by reaching the final of the qualifying event in Dubai.

They beat the United Arab Emirates by four wickets and will face Ireland or the Netherlands later on Saturday.

But both finalists are guaranteed a place in the main tournament, which starts in April in the West Indies.

The UAE managed 100-9 in their 20 overs and Afghanistan won with three balls to spare, Noor Ali making an unbeaten 38.

The victory capped an astonishing rise by captain Nowroz Mangal and his team, who were in the fifth tier of international cricket only two years ago.

After progressing through Divisions Four and Three of the World Cricket League, they secured one-day international status last year by finishing sixth in the qualifying competition for the 2011 World Cup.

Having come through the group stage of the World Twenty20 qualifier with a 100% record, they lost by four wickets to the Netherlands in their opening Super Fours match.

Despite that, however, victory over the UAE would make certain of a place in the final and a trip to the Caribbean and they were soon on top as they reduced their opponents to 11-3.

Abdul Rehman (18) and Saqib Ali (24) shared a partnership of 42 in seven overs but Naeemuddin Aslam (18) was the only other batsman to reach double figures as off-spinner Mohammad Nabi took 3-17 in his four-over spell.

Facing a modest target, Afghanistan suffered a double setback as Shadeep Silva removed Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad with the new ball.

But Noor and Mangal steadied the innings by adding 32 in six overs before the latter was caught in the deep off Fayyaz Ahmed for 14.

Asghar Stanikzai then hit two sixes in his 26 off 32 balls before becoming Fayyaz's second victim and although they lost two further wickets, including a run out from the first ball of the final over, Noor kept his nerve to see them home.




Bookmark with:
Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon
What are these?
E-mail this to a friend Printable version


see also
Irish on brink of World Twenty20
12 Feb 10 | Ireland
Afghans beat Irish in qualifier

 

[ishwaq]

Afghanistan earned the right to take on the leading cricket nations at the ICC World Twenty20 as they won the qualifying competition in Dubai.

After securing their trip to the West Indies in April with a four-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates, they easily beat Ireland in the final.

Mohammad Shahzad (65 not out) was the hero in an eight-wicket victory.

But by reaching the final, Ireland also qualified to play in the Caribbean and will be in the same group as England.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Ireland were restricted to 142-8 with Niall O'Brien and Alex Cusack top-scoring with 28 each, while off-spinner and captain Nowroz Mangal once again impressed with figures of 3-23.

And wicketkeeper Shahzad took control of the match batting at three, smashing six boundaries before sealing a comprehensive victory with a six over the extra cover boundary with 15 balls to spare, sending the partisan 6,000 crowd at Dubai's International Cricket Stadium into raptures.

Afghanistan will now join inaugural World Twenty20 winners India and South Africa in Group C.

"It's a big thing for Afghanistan, for the cricketers and the nation," said Afghanistan's Pakistani coach Kabir Khan.

"It speaks for itself about how great an achievement it is for the side. For me personally it's my greatest achievement as a coach so far and I am extremely proud for the team and for all of Afghanistan."

The victory capped an astonishing rise by Mangal and his team, who were in the fifth tier of international cricket only two years ago.

After progressing through Divisions Four and Three of the World Cricket League, they secured one-day international status last year by finishing sixth in the qualifying competition for the 2011 World Cup.

"It's quite incredible that 18 months ago the side were winning ICC World Cricket League Division 5 and then they managed ODI status, they just missed out on the ICC Cricket World Cup and now they have just qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies," added Khan.

Having come through the group stage of the World Twenty20 qualifier with a 100% record, they lost by four wickets to the Netherlands in their opening Super Fours match.

However, they secured their place in the Caribbean following a tense semi-final victory over the UAE with three balls to spare. Noor Ali's 38 ensured Afghanistan overhauled the hosts' total of 100-9.

Middle order batsman Raees Ahmadzai said his team were not travelling to the Caribbean just to make up the numbers, using the Netherlands' shock victory against hosts England in the opening match of the 2009 tournament at Lord's as inspiration.

"We will give the full member countries a real test out in the West Indies - we won't be going out there just for fun," he said.

"In Twenty20 cricket anything can happen. It is a form of cricket we know very well and we will not be easy to beat."

And ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat concurred with Ahmadzai's assessment.

"Judging by what I have seen during this tournament, they will give some of the full members more than a few awkward moments during the event," said the South African.