Six KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft

The exciting Kabul Premier League (KPL) Season 2 Players Draft took place in the city on Tuesday morning much to the excitement of the country’s cricket fans.

The gala event, which brought together Afghanistan’s cricket fraternity, was broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television Network and Ariana News, which secured the rights earlier this year to produce and broadcast this year’s tournament.

Addressing the event on Tuesday, Mujeeburahman Baheer, the head of Ariana News, pointed out that Ariana Television Network (ATN), including Ariana News, is committed to making sure people in Afghanistan have access to world-class sporting events.

He said: “Ariana TV has always tried to bring sports to people’s homes.”

This year’s T20 league extravaganza – which is a great source of hope for young cricketers in the country – will take place in Kabul at the Ayoubi Sports Complex and will start on June 4.

Also addressing Tuesday’s event was Nazeem Jar Abdulrahimzai, the domestic cricket manager for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

He said he believes that Ayoubi Sports Complex can organize an even better league event this year compared to last year’s event.

He also thanked all those who have invested time and money into developing and supporting cricket in the country.

Abdul Latif Ayoubi, head of Ayoubi Sports Complex, meanwhile said challenges faced last year had been smoothed out and that conditions have since improved for this year’s tournament.

Ayoubi also announced the addition of another team this year.

Last year there were five teams, this year there will be six. He said this decision was taken so as to provide more players with the opportunity to take part in the league.

Seyyed Khan, the head of the Ayoubi Sports Complex, also addressed guests at the event and said: “This year, a lot of effort has been made to be able to present an improved league that meets the standards; the shortcomings last year regarding the field and other areas have been addressed.”

Kabul Premier League (KPL)

Last year’s tournament was the first KPL and included five teams; these were Ayoubi Kabul Zalmi, Band-e-Amir Stars, Shaheen Hunters, Shamshad Eagles and Speenghar Warriors.

This year, Kabul Knight Riders have been added to the mix.

The trophy was lifted last year by Shaheen Hunters.

The Kabul Premier League aims to not only promote cricket in the country but also serves as a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills.

Kabul Premier League (KPL) Players Draft Ceremony

Tuesday’s Player Draft was divided into three groups. Diamond, Gold and Silver. Band-e-Amir Stars picked up the first player.

The list of players drafted are as follows:

Band-e-Amir Stars

1. Hazratullah Zazai
2. Nejat Masoud,
3. Farmanullah Safi
4. Akram Alikhel
5. Irfanullah Safi
6. Sharafuddin Ashraf (all-rounder)
7. Navid Obeid (batsman)
8. Nasir Khan (bowler)
9. Fridon Khan (fast bowler)
10. Emil Shahin
11. Haroon Khan
12. Qamar Shams
13. Abdulsalam Hasheibi
14. Biryal Afghan
15. Aqdam Khan Shirzad

Shaheen Hunters

1. Hijaz Ahmadzai (batsman)
2. Abdul Malik
3. Azharul Haq Navid
4. Imran Mir
5. Asif Musazai
6. Zahid Afghan (fast bowler)
7. Mohammadullah Hamkar (fast bowler)
8. Sadiq Pacha
9. Uzirullah Khamosh
10. Wasim Mangal
11. Seyed Khan Niazi (fast bowler)
12. Ata Zarmal (wicket keeper)
13. Ismat Habibi
14. Mashoq Totakhel
15. Ruhollah Arab

Shamshad Eagles

1. Shahidullah Kamal, (batsman)
2. Ehsanullah Janat
3. Numan Shah, (all-rounder)
4. Ali Ahmad Naser
5. Bashir Ahmad (fast bowler)
6. Kamel Kaker
7. Abdallah Tarakhel (all-rounder)
8. Dastgir Khan
9. Wahid Shafaq
10. Khayal Mohammad
11. Rahim Mangal
12. Abdul Baqi Popel
13. Yahya Khan
14. Murad Ali
15. Juma Gul

Kabul Knight Riders

1. Riaz Hassan (batsman)
2. Naser Jamal
3. Zahed Khan Paktin
4. Yusuf Shah
5. Mohammad Riaz (all-rounder)
6. Zubid Akbari (batsman)
7. Yama Arab (bowler)
8. Moheb Zurmati
9. Wahid Zadran
10. Arab Momand
11. Ishaq Saqi
12. Rahman Shah
13. Sabawon Boniri
14. Azam Khan
15. Salam Kaker

Ayoubi Kabul Zalmi

1. Qais Ahmad (bowler)
2. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
3. Zia ul-Rahman Sharifi (bowler)
4. Masoud Gurbaz
5. Sohail Khan Zarmati (batsman)
6. Sami Bilal (fast bowler)
7. Mohammad Wasim Akram
8. Ibrahim Abdul Rahimzai (fast bowler)
9. Darvish Rasouli
10. Saber Hanif
11. Rahmanullah Zadran
12. Shams Karokhil
13. Rozuddin Afghan
14. Juma Din
15. Zafar Alozai

Speenghar Warriors

1. Samiullah Shinwari (batsman)
2. Hamza Hotak
3. Wafadar Momand
4. Waqarullah Ishaqzai
5. Hassan Isakhel
6. Lal Baz (fast bowler)
7. Osman Noori
8. Jalad Musazai
9. Mahbob Tasken
10. Jalal Stanekzai
11. Akbar Ali
12. Salman Shinwari
13. Khaled Niazi
14. Rahman Zurmati
15. Noorullah Ayubi

Once the draft wrapped up, the highly-sought after KPL trophy was displayed.

For cricket fans across the country, ATN will broadcast KPL matches live and exclusively from early next month.

For breaking news and updates, fans can stay tuned to Ariana Television and Ariana News’ websites and social media platforms, where all KPL news will be posted.

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ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

By Ariana Television — 1 year ago

The start of the exciting ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is just one day away and fans around the world are gearing up to watch the global extravaganza, which will of course end in celebration for one team and millions of fans.

Afghan fans meanwhile have not been forgotten about as Ariana Television Network has secured the exclusive, and live, broadcasting rights for all matches, which will be played in India.

Games will be broadcast live each day on Ariana Television, while concurrent matches will be live-streamed on Ariana Television’s website.

This World Cup, which starts Thursday, will meanwhile provide a sharp focus for one-day international cricket (ODIs) and a chance to show how the 50-over game has evolved since India last staged the tournament in 2011.

In recent years, critics have complained that ODIs, which were once the economic driving force of the game, are now often reduced to what they say are “meaningless” bilateral series.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell recently said in a column on ESPNCricinfo that “the ODI has been reduced to virtually depending on a World Cup year for its importance.”

Other experts say the game is too “predictable” and that it has become “boring”.

These sentiments are not however shared with millions of fans around the world who consider ODIs a stalwart of the International Cricket Council’s schedule.

Observers say that perhaps the biggest on-field development since 2011 has been the change in what constitutes a big total.

There have been 24 occasions on which a total of 400 has been passed in ODI cricket and 15 of those have come since the 2011 World Cup.

In fact World Cup-holders England have lifted the world record for an ODI total to 444 in 2016; 481 in 2018 and again last year with a staggering 498 against the Netherlands.

But despite the negative opinions of some critics, ODIs, which date back to 1971, are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Instead, there will be some thrilling matches over the next few weeks, including at least one much anticipated clash between Asian giants and arch-rivals India and Pakistan.

Ten teams are already well into their warm up matches in India, and each team will play every other team once in the league stage. The top four will go through to the semi-finals.

So, who are the favorites to lift this year’s trophy?

Well, experts point towards India as having a good chance, given that they are hosts and have the home crowd on their side and that they are also No.1 in ICC’s ODI rankings.

England might also have a shot as they are defending champions, who won the T20 World Cup last year, and they remain the fastest-scoring batting line-up in ODIs.

Then there is Pakistan, who held the No. 1 ranking until India took it from them.

New Zealand were losing finalists at the last two ODI World Cups as well as the 2021 T20 World Cup. They have a core group of highly experienced, skilful players who will no doubt want to go one better this time.

The experts point out that Australia meanwhile might find themselves seriously tested by Sri Lanka in Lucknow, while New Zealand could face the same predicament by both Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Chennai.

Afghanistan may also pose a big threat to Pakistan, who don’t really have a gun wicket-taking spinner, when they meet in Chennai.

The opening game on October 5 will pit England and New Zealand against each other in Ahmedabad. The final will be on November 19.

There will be six day games, starting at 10.30am local time, but every other match will be day-night contests, starting at 2pm India time.

There are however reserve days in case of rain for both semi-finals, scheduled to take place in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16, and the final.

Afghanistan’s first match will be against Bangladesh on Saturday, October 7, in Dharamsala.

The fixtures are as follows?

• Afghanistan vs Bangladesh: Saturday, October 7, 2023, Dharamsala
• Afghanistan vs India: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Delhi
• Afghanistan vs England: Saturday, October 14, 2023, Delhi
• Afghanistan vs New Zealand: Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Chennai
• Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Monday, October 23, 2023, Chennai
• Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka: Monday, October 30, 2023, Pune
• Afghanistan vs Netherlands: Friday, November 3, 2023, Lucknow
• Afghanistan vs Australia: Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Mumbai
• Afghanistan vs South Africa: Friday, November 10, 2023, Ahmedabad

Ariana Television Network will keep fans up-to-date on all the news and on broadcasting and streaming details. So be sure to check back here, regularly, for the latest World Cup news.

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FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

By Ariana Television — 5 years ago

The 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be the 10th FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Read More

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ACC Asia Cup 2023 on Ariana Television

By Ariana Television — 1 year ago

The schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, was officially announced on Wednesday evening. The tournament will run from August 30 to September 17.
Pakistan will take on Nepal in the opening match of the 2023 Asia Cup in Multan, the ICC confirmed.
The tournament, which will be played in 50-overs format, has six teams divided into two groups of three teams each.
Pakistan, India and Nepal are in Group A while Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are in Group B. The tournament will follow a hybrid model with Pakistan hosting four matches across two venues and Sri Lanka hosting the remaining games.
The iconic clash between India and Pakistan is set for September 2 in Kandy.
The six group-stage matches will be followed by the Super 4s, beginning September 6.
The final will be played by the teams that occupy the top two spots at the end of the Super 4s on September 17 in Colombo.
Afghanistan’s first match in the Group Stage will be on September 3 in Lahore, Pakistan, against Bangladesh. The team will then play Sri Lanka, also in Lahore, on September 5.
The Asia Cup will be broadcast live by Ariana Television Network, starting on August 30. Broadcasting details, final fixtures and match reports will also be published on ATN’s digital sites daily – providing cricket fans with all the information they need.
The fixtures as revealed by the ICC on Wednesday evening as below.

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Six KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft

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