UAE end Afghanistan’s winning streak

KABUL by six wickets in an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) T20 Cup match in Kathmandu, an official said on Saturday.

Despite superb performances by captain Mohammad Nabi and Shafiqullah Shafaq, Afghanistan, which defeated Bahrain and Oman, lost their third game to the UAE, the cricket board’s spokesman said.

According to Farid Hotak, Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat in the 20-over game. They side lost five key batsmen for just 17 runs. It was Nabi who played a responsible innings, contributing 72 runs. He was well supported by Shafaq with a half ton.

The Afghans set the UAE a 144 runs target which they achieved in the last over for the loss of four wickets, Hotak said. Aftab Alam, Samiullah Shinwari and Nasim claimed one wicket each.

Placed in Group B with the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, Afghanistan will take on Bahrain in their fourth match on Sunday.

Group A includes Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Malaysia and Singapore.

The finalists will find their way to the World T-20 Cricket Championship, scheduled to be held in the UAE in December.

Led by Nabi, the team is comprised of Karim Sadiq, Shahpur Zadran, Nasim Barich, Najibullah Zadran, Fazal Niazi, Gulbadin Naib, Samiullah Shinwari, Shafiqullah Shafaq, Mohammad Nasim, Mohammad Sami Agha, Aftab Alam and Hamza Hotak.

ma/mud

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