If you missed the historical victory by Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup, dont worry watch the entire match here;
Hong Kong stuns Afghans in Final of ACC U19 Elite Cup 2009 in Kuwait.
“It was a good tournament and very impressive to see such young talent on display from all 10 teams taking part,” said ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who attended the final few days of the event.
“We have all been impressed by the Afghanistan team, which progressed from Division 5 of the WCL to coming fifth at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in less than a year. It is particularly heartening to see the next generation of Afghan cricketers performing so well. By beating defending champion Nepal in the semi-final, I think the players have really come of age and we can expect big things from them in the future,” he said.
Mr Lorgat said he was impressed with the tournament, which is the Asia regional qualifying event for the 10-team ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier that takes place later this year. Both the winner Hong Kong and Afghanistan progress to that event.
In the final, before an enthusiastic crowd of around 3,000 people, Afghanistan batted first and made a competitive 215-9 off 50 overs with Asgher Hotak (70) and Murad Ali (68) doing most of the damage. In reply, a fine 94 from man of the match James Atkinson ensured Hong Kong claimed the title with three overs and eight wickets to spare.
“There was a great atmosphere for the final with so many Afghans in the crowd to support their team. Events like this don’t happen without considerable planning and hard work from so many volunteers. It shows to me the marvelous spirit of cricket when people give up their free time and devote it to the game in this way.
“I would like to congratulate Hong Kong on this victory and I wish them and Afghanistan the best of luck in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier later this year. If the under-19s from Afghanistan show the same willingness to learn as their senior counterparts, they will be a very useful side by then,” said Mr Lorgat.
Although it did not win one of the four places at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, by coming fifth in the qualifier, Afghanistan’s senior team gained One-Day International status for the next four years and also booked a place in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2009 and the first-class, four-day ICC Intercontinental Cup 2009-10.
That success also brings with it the opportunity to access considerable ICC funding which – in line with the ICC’s new funding policy for all Associate and Affiliate Members – will likely be targeted in areas such as improving the administrative, playing and capital infrastructure of the game so that cricket can build on this success and continue to grow and flourish in Afghanistan.
The event in Kuwait was part of the ICC’s centenary celebrations, giving Associate and Affiliate teams from Asia the chance to “Catch the Spirit” just as it is being done in each of the ICC’s 104 Members around the globe. The Catch the Spirit flag has been flying across the region to promote the ICC’s centenary, the great spirit of cricket and the wide appeal and diversity of the game.
Meanwhile, other hopeful under-19 teams are all vying for places in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier with regional events taking place across five continents. The Africa qualifier is currently underway in Zambia while the European, Americas and East Asia-Pacific (EAP) events will take place shortly.
The EAP version is scheduled for Papua New Guinea from 30 May to 8 June, the Americas tournament will run from 12 to 18 July in Toronto while the European event will take place in Jersey from 14 to 20 July.
The global qualifier will take place later this year at a venue yet to be determined. The top five teams from that will join the 10 Full Members plus host Kenya in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2010.
T20 Match between Officials, Umpires and Former Test Cricketers in Kuwait.
Tauseef Bukhari hitting the ball, Bandula warnapura at Non-Striker end. Iqbal Sikander is Bowling
"Happiest Day in Afghanistan Cricket History" says Hamid Hassan.
Afghanistan’s players celebrated in style after clinching the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 title.
Mohammad Nabi (4-23) and Hamid Hassan (3-16) both put in outstanding bowling displays as Afghanistan defeated Cayman Islands by 82 runs.
“It is unbelievable – it is a dream come true. Everybody who saw the game yesterday saw that we played very badly and in today’s fresh game we played much better. Today is the happiest day in Afghanistan cricket history,” said fast bowler Hamid Hassan.
“I bowled really well and would have liked to take more wickets but I am very happy with my performance and my team.”
Afghanistan now progresses to the 12-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier which will be held in South Africa between 1-19 April.
“I am very happy to qualify for the World Cup Qualifier and I hope we can make it to the World Cup,” said Mohammad Nabi.
“My performance with my batting hasn’t been so good at this event and my bowling has been much better.”
“We all now going to work hard on our game and hopefully we can qualify for the World Cup. It would be so exciting if we can make it to 2011.”
Papua New Guinea knocked down Hong Kong. 91 for all out !!!
Papua New Guinea took a step closer to qualifying for the ICC Cricket World Cup when it thrashed Hong Kong by nine wickets on a rain affected day at the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3.
But Afghanistan’s and Uganda’s dream of playing in world’s cricket biggest one-day event remains alive after rain saved both sides from precarious positions in Buenos Aires on Friday and forced both games to be abandoned. While Uganda’s match against Argentina was abandoned with the African side 69-4 in the first innings of the game, Afghanistan enjoyed an even luckier escape after Cayman Islands’ run chase was thwarted when it needed just 28 more runs for victory following a torrential downpour.
PNG coach Martin Gleeson, whose team now tops the table with eight points, was delighted with the performance of his side and admitted it will be a nervous day tomorrow following the fortunes of the two other matches.
With the top two sides at this event earning a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, if Afghanistan and Uganda both win its matches tomorrow it will be net run rate that is used to determine final group placings as the top three teams will all have won four matches at this event.
“Today was a completely different performance to Wednesday. I thought we needed to stand up collectively and show a bit of character and the boys responded really well and showed a bit of character,” said Gleeson. “There were no individual stars with the bowling – it was just a really good all-round performance.
“Our batting focus was on knocking off the runs as quickly as possible, hitting the ball and not slogging it. I think we showed that we can score six or seven runs an over with the bat. “We will just have to see how the other matches end up.”
Hong Kong, who started play with an outside chance of finishing in the top two of the competition, never recovered from a disastrous start and was eventually dismissed for 91 all out, with Loa Nou the pick of the bowlers with 3-14.
Najeeb Amar | Where's the rain when you need it
And openers Vani Morea (41 not out off 30 balls) and Chris Amini (38 off 44 balls) provided an explosive reply to reach its revised victory target, due to the rain, transforming Papua New Guinea’s net run rate which had been seriously damaged following Wednesday’s crushing defeat to Afghanistan.
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World Cricket League Division 3, Argentina 2009
Updates provided by : Tauseef Bukhari
