Afghanistan stunned Sri Lanka by eight wickets with almost half the overs in hand in the opening game of the Asia Cup T20 tournament in Dubai on Saturday.
Sri Lanka was dismissed for 105 in the last over before Rahmanullah Gurbaz (40) and Hazratullah Zazai (37 not out) smashed 83 runs in the powerplay to help Afghanistan reach 106-2 in 10.1 overs.
The islanders, who are the hosts the tournament in the UAE, didn’t recover from Fazalhaq Farooqi’s twin strikes in the maiden first over after being sent in to bat. The left-arm fast bowler trapped Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka off successive deliveries and took 3-11.
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi said his team will be no pushovers in the Asia Cup.
Afghanistan, in Group B with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have made a thumping start to their campaign in the six-nation tournament that acts as a tune-up to the T20 World Cup in October-November in Australia.
"There are no upsets against opposition teams. We have properly worked on this tournament," Nabi said. "We came early, worked hard and tried to acclimatise."
Afghanistan, who got Test status in 2017 and played their first five-day match against India a year later, have made giant strides in international cricket.
"We have come here to play as a proper Test nation. We are not here to participate and go back. We will fight on pitches that favour our strengths," said Nabi.
"We want to qualify for the next round [Super 4] the and give a tough time to opposition teams."
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who top-scored with 38, added 44 with Danushka Gunathilaka (17) before Afghanistan struck through its spinners Nabi, 2-14, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 2-24.
Sunday will see a blockbuster clash between India meet Pakistan in a Group A clash at the same venue.
The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
On racial profiling at airports
Pots for the Asian Qualifiers
Pot 1: Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, China
Pot 2: Iraq, Uzbekistan, Syria, Oman, Lebanon, Kyrgyz Republic, Vietnam, Jordan
Pot 3: Palestine, India, Bahrain, Thailand, Tajikistan, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, Philippines
Pot 4: Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Malaysia
Pot 5: Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Guam, Macau/Sri Lanka
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