Afghanistan Youth in the semi finals of Ramadan Cup

The Afghanistan Youth Cricket Association (AYCA) has beaten Pakistan Cricket Club (PCC)in the quarter final stage of Dr. M.A. Shah Lephone Night T20 Trophy and smoothly went to the semi finals. Afghanistan won by 8 wickets 5 overs still in hand to play.

Dr. M.A. Shah Lephone Night T20 Trophy is known as Ramadan Cup in Pakistan and is played under the floodlights in Karachi.

PCC won the toss and as expected elected to bat first. AYCA coach Asadullah says he also wanted to bat first if he would have won the toss and had a strategy when his side lost the toss  and received invitation to bowel. Afghanistan started bowling with Kahlidad Noori.  PCC had a good start scoring 22 in the first 3 overs, but stumbled to Afghan bowlers loosing early wickets. Afghan bowlers and fielders managed to put pressure on PCC throughout the game and did not allow it to put a high target.  PCC lost all wickets in 20 overs for 92 runs. PCC lost three wickets for run out, three to fast bowler Hamid Hassan, two to left arm spinner Abdullah Mazari, and one for Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah each.

The 93 target did not seem high for the enthusiastic AYCA team. Coach Assadullah had a different plan for batting today. He chose Abdullah Mazari and Mohammad Shahzad to open Afghanistan’s batting. Assadullah says he opened with left arm batsman Mazari because he wanted a fast start benefiting from the power play. Afghanistan scored 33 runs in the first 2 overs and lost Abdullah Mazari’s wicket in the third over. Asghar Stankazai replaced him and stood until the end not out with Mohammad Nabi who started smashing the ball after losing Mohammad Shahzad.

AYCA and PCC match was a typical T20 one loves to watch. Afghanistan’s batting was full of fours and sixes; “Saloriza” and “Shpagiza” as Afghans name them. Afghanistan started the innings with the first four from the first ball by Mazari and ended the match with a huge six from Asghar Stanakzai on the last ball of 15^th over. Mohammad Nabi and Asghar smashed two sixes for each, while openers Mohammad Shahzad and Mazari hit four boundaries for four and 2 for sixes, sharing the joy equally.

Mohammad Nabi scored 31, Asghar 26, Shahzad 19, and Mazari 16.

Afghanistan Youth will play in the semi finals either with Pak Korangi or Korangi Al Fatah on Saturday (4^th September). Afghanistan Youth lost its first match in this tournament to Korangi Al Fatah and will be looking forward to revenge if meet again.

About AYCA and the Trohpy:

AYCA has received assistance from the Afghanistan Cricket Board and sponsorship from Etisalat Afghanistan, says the ACB. The ACB has provided the AYCA squad with 9 players from the current national team while two more players (Badshah Hussain and Shafiqullah Shafaq) have also played with the national team at different occasions.

The tournament organizers say “the winning team will receive Suzuki Also car, while Suzuki Mehran will be given to runner-up team, besides all man of the matches will receive motor cycles.”

All matches are broadcasted live by the Geo Super T.V.

For information on the squad and fixtures, please click here 

Match Score Card: