Afghanistan cricket boss apologises for poor show

By AFP

March 10, 2018

HARARE: A “gutted” Afghan-istan cricket chief Shafiq Stanikzai apologised to fans on Thursday after the team’s shock defeat by Hong Kong left their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup all but over.

After losses to Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe, new Test side Afghanistan’s hopes were hanging by a thread, but they collapsed to 195-9 in pursuit of 242 to beat Hong Kong, with rain ensuring a 30-run defeat on DLS method.

Victory for Hong Kong in either of their two remaining Group B matches against Scotland and Nepal would ensure Rashid Khan’s much-fancied Afghan outfit cannot even reach the Super Six stage.

“Gutted, frustrated and extremely sorry for whatever happened in the ICC cricket World Cup qualifier,” Stanikzai wrote on Twitter.“But #Bluetigers, u r still the heroes of the nation thank u for whatever u did till date to the nation. Sorry beloved nation but we will come strong Insha Allah.”

Mystery spinner Mujeebur Rahman, 16, took 3-26 with Mohammad Nabi also claiming three scalps as Afghanistan restricted Hong Kong to 241-8, but they lost regular wickets in the chase.

Tailender Dawlat Zadran struck a spirited unbeaten 40, but it was too little, too late as Afghanistan’s dreams of reaching a second straight World Cup were left in shreds in Harare.Scotland became the first team to book their spot in the next round after beating Nepal by four wickets to make it three wins from three.

But captain Kyle Coetzer, who hit a match-winning 88 not out in Bulawayo, slammed the ICC’s controversial decision to cut the number of teams in the World Cup from 14 to 10 as “crazy”.

Another triumph for the Scots in their final group game against Zimbabwe would leave them well-placed to claim one of the last two slots for next year’s World Cup in England and Wales.

An excellent unbeaten 99 from captain Jason Holder led the West Indies to a six-wicket win against Papua New Guinea, after the two-time World Cup champions had slipped to 58-4 while chasing 201 for a second consecutive victory in Group A.

Ireland, who did not play on Thursday, remain top of the table on net run rate, while the United Arab Emirates look set to progress after a six-wicket win over the Netherlands.Rohan Mustafa took 5-26 and Chirag Suri managed an unbeaten 78 as the UAE sealed a crucial victory over the Dutch — four-time World Cup participants.

Results: Scotland beat Nepal by four wickets at Queens Sports Club: Nepal 149 all out, 47.4 overs (Paras Khadka 63, Basant Regmi 24 not out; Stuart Whittingham 3-35, Safyaan Sharif 2-21, Alasdair Evans 2-24). Scotland 153-6, 41.3 overs (Kyle Coetzer 88 not out; Basant Regmi 2-26, Sandeep Lamichhane 2-31). Player of the match: Kyle Coetzer (Scotland).

Hong Kong beat Afghanistan by 30 runs (DLS Method, target revised to 226 in 46 overs) at Bulawayo Athletic Club: Hong Kong 241-8, 50 overs (Anshuman Rath 65, Babar Hayat 31, Nizakat Khan 28, Scott McKechnie 24, Shahid Wasif 21; Mujeeb Rahman 3-36, Mohammd Nabi 3-48). Afghanistan 195-9, 46 overs (Dwlat Zadran 40 not out, Mohammad Nabi 38, Najibul Zadran 32, Javed Ahmadi 22; Ehsan Khan 4-33, Nadeem Ahmed 2-37). Player of the match: Ehsan Khan (Hong Kong).

Windies beat PNG by six wickets at Old Hararians: PNG 200 all out, 42.4 overs (Assad Vala 57, Tony Ura 37, Mahuru Dai 35, Norman Vanua 35; Carlos Brathwaite 5-27, Nikita Miller 2-25). Windies 201-4, 43 overs (Jason Holder 99 not out, Shai Hope 49 not out, Marlon Samuels 24)). Player of the match: Jason Holder (Windies).

UAE beat the Netherlands by six wickets at Harare Sports Club: Netherlands 176 all out, 46.3 overs (Wesley Barresi 37, Ryan ten Doeschate 34, Scott Edwards 27, Pieter Seelaar 20; Rohan Mustafa 5-26). UAE 177-4, 40 overs (Chirag Suri 78 not out, Mohamad Usman 36 not out, Ghulam Shabber 27). Player of the match: Rohan Mustafa (UAE).

Points Table

Tabulated under as team, played, won, lost, points, net run-rate.

Group A

Ireland 2 2 0 4 1.093

Windies 2 2 0 4 1.030

UAE 3 2 1 4 0.224

PNG 3 0 3 0 -0.770

Netherlands 2 0 2 0 -1.358

Group B

Scotland 3 3 0 6 1.160

Zimbabwe 2 2 0 4 1.180

Hong Kong 2 1 1 2 -0.838