Afghanistan are on the brink of elimination in the first round of the World Cup Qualifier after a shock 30-run defeat to Hong Kong in Bulawayo.
The Afghans entered the tournament as strong favourites to take one of the two places on offer to play at the World Cup in England next summer. The loss to Hong Kong, though, was their third in a calamitous start to the competition.
Asghar Stanikzai, their captain, pulled out through injury before the start. It was hoped he would be fit to play in the second phase.
But the Afghans were then forced to officially replace him with a new recruit, Afsar Zazai, while their regular wicketkeeper, Mohammed Shahzad, was banned for two matches by the ICC for indiscipline.
The off-field problems have been reflected on the field. Defeat to Hong Kong, in a rain-affected match, followed losses to Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe.
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Comment: Twin targets for UAE at Cricket World Cup Qualifier
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Zimbabwe suffered a blow, even though they were without a game on Thursday. Brian Vitori, who took the winning wicket in their thrilling win over against Afghanistan, was suspended from bowling because of an illegal action.
“Vitori's suspension shall remain in place until such time he submits to an assessment of his bowling action at an ICC approved testing centre and the assessment concludes that his bowling action is legal,” the ICC said in a statement. Vitori has been replaced in the host nation’s squad by Richard Ngarava.
Scotland became the first side to book their place in the Super Sixes, after they beat Nepal in Group B.
The four-wicket win was Scotland’s third in succession at the start of the competition. Kyle Coetzer, their captain, was man of the match as he ended 88 not out in Scotland’s chase of 150 to win.
In the other match in the UAE’s group, West Indies were eventually comfortable six-wicket winners over Papua New Guinea, despite being briefly troubled at 58-4 in pursuit of 201 to win.
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
