Afghans take flying start to ACC T20 Cup

KABUL opened their Asian Cricket Council (ACC) T20 Elite Cup campaign on a triumphant note, beating Oman in the opener played in Kathmandu on Tuesday, an official said.

The national team won the toss and elected to bat, getting bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) spokesman, Farid Hotak, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Karim Sadiq top-scored 46 and Mohammad Nabi Issakhel hit 32 to lend some respectability to their side’s total, Hotak said. For Oman, Ali claimed three scalps, as Ranpura and Maqsood captured two wickets each. 

While chasing the target, Oman were bundled out for 104 in 19.1 overs — thanks to fiery bowling spell by skipper Issakhel, who dismissed four key opposition batsmen. Aftab Alam and Fazal Rahman took two wickets apiece.

In recognition of his outstanding all-round performance, Issakhel was given the Man of the Match award in opening encounter of the 10-nation event that will continue till April 3.

Afghanistan, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain are placed in Group B. 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.

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