Kabul (Pajhwok): Some current and former Afghan officials and the Indian Cricket Board congratulated the Afghanistan-A team on winning the ACC Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup title and wished them more success.
The Presidential Palace in Kabul published a message greeting about the Afghan Abdalyan.
The statement reads: “Congratulations to all the countrymen and cricket players for this victory. Afghan youths and players are praise worthy for bringing glories home in every field and competition.”
Islamic Emirate deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat wrote on his Facebook page that the Afghanistan Cricket A team defeated Sri Lanka-A team in the final of the Asia Emerging Cup and won the championship for the first time.
In addition, deputy foreign minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai also congratulated the A team and Afghanistan Cricket Board and the entire nation in a video message and wished the cricket players more success in future
National Olympic Committee chairman Maulvi Ahmadullah Wasiq wrote it was another great and historic victory in the field of sports.
He wrote: “Afghan Abdalyan national cricket team defeated Sri Lanka-A team by 7 wickets in the final of the Asia Cup and won the title for the first time.”
Also, Islamic Emirate’s political office head in Qatar, Sohail Shaheen, also wrote on X, “Congratulations to the Afghanistan Cricket-A team and the Afghan people for winning the Asia Cup.”
“Your hard work, enthusiasm and team work spirit made this possible and congratulations to all of you from the bottom of my heart,” Shaheen said, while addressing the players:
Indian Cricket Board head Jay Shah and the future head of the World Cricket Council, also congratulated the Afghanistan-A team.
He published a picture of the Afghanistan A team and captioned it: “Your endless enthusiasm, hard work and joint work led to a wonderful victory and I wish you more success in your cricket journey!”
Jay Shah, who was elected as the head of the World Cricket Council about two months ago, will assume office in December.
Former president Hamid Karzai wrote on his Facebook page: “Congratulations to all the countrymen, especially the cricket players, for the victory against Sri Lanka in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup.”
At the same time, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Peace Council in the previous government, also congratulated the players, coaches and people of Afghanistan over winning the championship.
Afghanistan-A have clinched the ACC Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup title, triumphing over Sri Lanka-A at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground.
Sri Lanka skipper Nuwanidu Fernando won the toss and elected to bat. Sahan Arachchige hit a half century to help his side set a 134 runs target for Afghanistan.
The Times of India reported that Arachchige top-scored for Sri Lanka with 64 off 47 balls, including six sixes.
Nimesh Vimukthi and Pawan Rathnayake contributed 23 and 20 runs respectively to the Sri Lankan total.
For Afghanistan, Bilal Sami grabbed three wickets, while Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar chipped in with two scalps.
Afghanistan were off to a shocking start as opener Zubaid Akbari was dismissed on the first ball of the innings.
However, Sediqullah Atal, who scored 55 runs from 55 balls, and Darwish Rasooli, who hit 24 runs, built a crucial partnership.
Karim Janat scored 33 runs off 27 and Mohammad Ishaq added 16 runs off six balls to consolidate Afghanistan’s position.
The national squad chased down the target in the 19th over of the game, with seven wickets in hand and won the ACC Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup title for the first time.
Opener Sediqullah Atal was declared the highest scorer of the tournament with 368 runs in five innings.
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