In this video, a funny incident occurred between Rohit Sharma and umpire Virender Sharma during the match where Rohit was heard in the stump mike saying: "Hey Viru (Virender Sharma), did you give the first ball as thigh pad - It clearly touched the bat. I have already been dismissed for 0 twice,"
Classic Rohit Sharma ...!!! 👌😂
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 17, 2024
- He's telling umpire that there's big bat and not leg byes and also saying he scored 2 ducks - went on to score a remarkable century. 🔥pic.twitter.com/5lMJAFqVGX
This incident took place during the second over of the match, a ball which was bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai touched the inside edge of Rohit's bat before hitting his pads and the batter went on to take a single. However, the umpire gave it a leg-bye and Rohit could not control his reaction.
After that, Rohit Sharma went on to score his 5th T20 International hundred and became the first batsman to achieve this feat.
As Rohit mentioned earlier, he wanted the team to be tested as these kind of matches will help the team ahead of the upcoming World T20 which will start on June 1 in West Indies & United States.
With this victory against Afghanistan, Skipper Rohit Sharma now has the most T20I wins (42) as India's captain in men's cricket.
From the outset, the script seemed to favor India, who won the toss and opted to bat first. However, Afghanistan's bowlers had other plans, wreaking havoc on the Indian top order and reducing them to a precarious 22/4 within the first powerplay. Just when the momentum seemed to slip away, Rohit Sharma and Rinku Singh emerged as the saviors, conjuring a magical partnership that defied the odds.
Rohit Sharma's masterclass took center stage as he crafted his fifth T20I century, a remarkable unbeaten 121 off 69 balls. Rinku Singh played the perfect supporting role, finishing unbeaten on 69* off 39 balls. The duo's extraordinary 190-run partnership propelled India to a commanding total of 212/4 in 20 overs, with Afghanistan conceding 17 extras in the process.
Rohit's blade danced with grace as he notched up his fifth T20I century, a feat that propelled him to the summit of centuries in the format, most by any batter in T20I, leaving behind the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Suryakumar Yadav. The innings, a masterpiece crafted with finesse, saw Rohit amass an unbeaten 121 off 69 balls, marking his highest T20I score and the fourth-highest individual score for India in T20Is.
In a stellar display of partnership, Rohit found an able ally in Rinku Singh, and together they orchestrated a monumental stand. The duo's unbroken partnership of 190* runs not only became the highest for India in T20Is but also surpassed the 176-run milestone set by Deepak Hooda and Sanju Samson against Ireland in 2022.
The record-breaking spree continued as India amassed 58 runs in the last two overs of their innings, setting a new benchmark for the most runs scored by any team in the 19th and 20th overs in all men's T20s. This phenomenal achievement eclipsed Nepal's 55 runs against Mongolia in the previous year's Asian Games.
The 20th over, bowled by Karim Janat, added another chapter to the record books as Rohit and Rinku plundered 36 runs. This remarkable feat equaled the record for the most runs conceded in an over in men's T20Is, a distinction shared with the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard.
As the innings reached its crescendo, India's score surged to 103 runs in the last five overs, a rare accomplishment in men's T20Is. Only one other team had achieved this feat before - Nepal against Mongolia in 2023.
Rohit's leadership prowess shone through as three of his five T20I centuries were achieved while captaining India. This milestone saw him draw level with Babar Azam for the most T20I tons as captain, marking a testament to his batting prowess and captaincy acumen.
The tale took an unexpected twist with Rinku Singh's heroics. Batting at No.6, he notched up an unbeaten 69*, the highest score by an Indian in that position in T20Is. His remarkable innings etched a new narrative, surpassing Axar Patel's previous record against Sri Lanka in Pune in 2023.
The climax of this cricketing saga revealed Rohit's age – 36 years and 262 days – making him the oldest player from a Test-playing nation to score a century in T20Is. This landmark achievement surpassed the previous record held by the formidable Chris Gayle.
Afghanistan's response was equally valiant, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran setting the stage with impressive half-centuries. Gulbadin Naib's heroic unbeaten 55* off 23 balls pushed the match into a Super Over, where the drama only intensified.
Washington Sundar emerged as India's hero with the ball, claiming three crucial wickets for 18 runs in his three overs. Kuldeep Yadav and Avesh Khan, though expensive, managed to make crucial breakthroughs. India's fielding prowess was on full display, contributing to the pressure on the Afghan side.
The first super over ended in a deadlock, with both teams scoring 16 runs each, setting the stage for a historic second super over. In a nerve-wracking climax, India successfully defended 11 runs, and it was the young sensation Ravi Bishnoi who etched his name in the annals of cricketing folklore.
Bishnoi's exceptional spell saw him take two wickets in three balls, sealing India's victory and breaking Afghanistan's resilient spirit as India clinched the 5-match series 3-0.
India’s attacking approach was evident in the last two T20s as one could imagine this would be their template going into the World T20 2024.
During those two matches, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi also played crucial roles in restricting Afghanistan to a modest target.
Here’s what to expect from the pitch:
The pitch in Chinnaswamy Stadium is regarded as one of the flattest wickets in India as batsmen enjoy playing on this ground due to its small boundaries. The pitch helps the fast bowlers in the first few overs as they get some swing with the new ball. Spinners can prove useful in the later stages of the match as the pitch tends to slow down and offer some turn.
Today, there will be clear skies in Bengaluru during the game. The temperature will hover around 25 degrees Celsius and as the play progresses, the temperature is likely to decrease gradually to 20 degrees Celsius.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
During the first T20 international, India ticked all the boxes and it was pleasing to see the all-round efforts of Shivam Dube as he could be a bright prospect for India in the upcoming World T20 which will held in West Indies and USA.
Pitch Report
The Holkar Stadium in Indore is known as a batting paradise as batters will enjoy batting on this track. The Average first innings score in Indore is around 185. The short boundaries will provide apply scoring opportunity. It is advisable for the team winning the toss to opt for batting first.
Temperature
With no rain in the forecast, match-day weather is predicted to be excellent. In addition, the temperature will generally be 22 degrees Celsius, with a possible dip to 17 degrees towards the end of the game.
India is likely to make one change as Virat Kohli is likely to replace Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill could make way for Yashasvi Jaiswal who missed the first T20 due to injury.
Probable XI
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal/Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Arshdeep Singh.
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen Ul Haq.
Celebrating coach Rahul Dravid's 51st birthday, India, under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, triumphed where all-rounder Shivam Dube stole the spotlight.
Dube's stellar performance showcased his versatility, making a strong case as Hardik Pandya's backup.
With the ball, he scalped a crucial wicket, dismissing Afghanistan's captain Ibrahim Zadran with finesse. But it was with the bat that Dube truly shone, anchoring the innings with a career-best 60 runs, guiding India to victory with 15 balls to spare.
Jitesh Sharma, known for his explosive finishes in the IPL, entered the fray early in the ninth over and contributed impressive 31 off 20 balls.
Axar Patel, stepping into the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, played a pivotal role with his darting deliveries, finishing with figures of 4-0-23-2.
In a strategic move, Kuldeep Yadav was rested, giving Washington Sundar an opportunity. Washington's economical spells in chilly conditions, showcased his versatility in different phases of the innings.
As the contest unfolded, Rohit Sharma's decision to stick with Washington in the penultimate over proved crucial, despite a challenging grip for spinners. Washington's steady performance, coupled with a missed chance for a tough return catch, added to the drama of a tightly contested match.
Rohit Sharma's return as captain after a 14-month hiatus was marked by a mix-up with Shubman Gill, resulting in his run-out. However, the team's overall dominance and the successful chase of a modest 159-run target brought smiles to the Indian camp.
With the T20 World Cup looming in less than six months, India seized the opportunity to test their young talents. Players like Axar Patel, who claimed 2 wickets for 23 runs, and Jitesh Sharma, delivering a fine cameo, showcased their mettle, contributing to India's triumph and taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Rohit Sharma etched his name in history, becoming the first men's player to achieve 100 T20I wins, joining an elite group alongside England's Dani Wyatt and Australia's Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry.
Brief score: Afghanistan 158/5 in 20 overs (Mohammad Nabi 42, Azmatullah Omarzai 29, Ibrahim Zadran 25; Axar Patel 2-23, Mukesh Kumar 2-33) lost to India 159/4 in 17.3 overs (Shivam Dube 60*, Jitesh Sharma 31, Tilak Varma 26; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-22, Azmatullah Omarzai 1-31) by six wickets
Ahead of the T20 series, Afghanistan suffered a major blow with Rashid Khan ruling out of the T20 series as the mystery spinner is recovering from lower back surgery.
Weather Report
The temperature in Mohali is expected to hover around 9 to 12 degree Celsius today. As the match will start at 7:00 IST, there is a possibility of fog during the match.
Pitch Report
The pitch in Mohali will offer some movement to the fast bowlers, but it is expected to be batting-friendly pitch as the batsman will enjoy batting on this track. The average first innings score in Mohali is around 180.
Probable XI
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan
Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
The match will be broadcasted on the Sports 18 network and live streamed on the Jio Cinema App.
The twist of fate could potentially keep him out of action for six weeks, casting a shadow over his immediate participation.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Suryakumar's absence, detailing his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Sources within the BCCI revealed that the 31-year-old's return would be tested with a stint in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai in February, serving as a fitness check before the impending Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Surya has reported to NCA for rehab work and the Medical Science team as of now has ruled him injured. He won't be able to play against Afghanistan which starts in three weeks. Since he is unlikely to be selected for Tests, he will possibly play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in February to check his fitness before playing in the IPL," a source privy to BCCI told IANS.
With key players like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya unavailable, the selectors may face a captaincy conundrum.
The speculations around Rohit Sharma potentially leading the side emerged unless the selectors decided to opt for Ravindra Jadeja as a temporary captain. However, Jadeja's workload concerns loomed large with his commitment to all five Tests against England.
Adding to the woes, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who led the squad at the Asian Games, found himself sidelined due to a broken finger, further thinning the available batting options.
The selectors will also face a dilemma over who will be the wicketkeeper as Ishan Kishan withdrew from the South Africa Tests citing "personal reasons," with reports suggesting a prioritization of mental health after a year on the road. Jitesh Sharma was touted as the replacement behind the stumps.
The BCCI, respecting the players' privacy, refrained from prying into Kishan's decision, acknowledging the toll that inconsistent selections can take on a player's mental well-being.
As the team regroups to face Afghanistan, the challenges ahead are not just on the field but also in managing the delicate balance between performance and player well-being in the demanding world of international cricket.
This comes after the Afghanistan Embassy had announced on September 30 that it is ceasing its operations from October 1. The mission had back then cited a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan's interests and reduction in personnel and resources.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Embassy said it regrets announcing the permanent closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, effective from November 23, "owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government".
"This decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on 30th September 2023, a move made in the hope that the Indian government's stance would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi," the statement said.
Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government's conduct were not realised, the Afghan embassy said.
"Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice," it said.
As of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic remaining in India, the mission stressed.
Those who served the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan have safely reached third countries, it said.
The only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings, it said.
The diplomats of the Afghan Republic have handed over the mission solely to the Indian government, the mission said.
"It now rests upon the Indian government to decide the fate of the mission, whether to maintain its closure or consider alternatives, including the possibility of handing it over to Taliban 'diplomats'. The responsibility of diplomats appointed by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has officially come to an end," it said.
The unfortunate end of the Republic mission marks the conclusion of the Afghan Republic in India, the statement said.
"We have considered the historic events and current circumstances carefully in arriving at this conclusion. We also extend their heartfelt gratitude to the people of India for their support and assistance to Afghanistan over the past 22 years," the statement said.
The Afghan Embassy asserted that India has been a steadfast strategic partner of the erstwhile Afghan Republic since 2001, and "we acknowledge the limitations and concerns that govern the realm of realpolitik and the balancing act required at a difficult time in a geo-politically sensitive region".
"Therefore, we firmly believe that the decision to close the mission in India at this stage and to transfer the custodial authority of the mission to the host country is in the best interest of Afghanistan," the mission said.
Citing the "challenging time for Afghanistan, where millions suffer because of poverty and socio-economic and political exclusion", the Embassy also urged that under the provisions of the Vienna Convention of 1961 (Article 45), the Ministry of External Affairs to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities concerning assuming custodial responsibility of the Afghan diplomatic mission properties, bank accounts, vehicles and all other assets located in New Delhi on urgent basis.
"A detailed list of assets in 110 pages has already been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs, including details of approximately
500,000 in the bank accounts of the mission," the statement said.
The mission also requested the Indian government, in alignment with the wishes of the Afghan people, to grant permission to hoist Afghanistan's tricolour flag over the mission's properties during this period.
"It is an important symbol of honour, pride, sacrifice and self-determination for millions of Afghans around the world," the statement said.
"Lastly, we earnestly implore the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the safekeeping of the Embassy's property and assets, with the understanding that they will be entrusted to a legitimate accountable government duly elected/chosen by the Afghan people in the future," the mission said.
The embassy also said that while cognisant that some may attempt to characterise this move as an internal conflict, allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban, it emphasises that this decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests.
"To the Afghan citizens in India, we extend our sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission's tenure. Despite limitations in resources and power, we have worked tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul," it said.
Unfortunately, efforts have been made to tarnish our image and hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats, it said.
The embassy has been headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundzay. Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and had been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
In April-May, the embassy was rocked by a power struggle in the wake of reports of the Taliban appointing a charge d'affaires to head the mission, replacing Mamundzay. Following the episode, the embassy came out with a statement that there was no change in its leadership.
India is yet to recognise the Taliban set-up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country
However, a particular fan from Afghanistan is trending on social media and netizens are wondering why. Well, she is none other than the stunning Wazhma Ayoubi from Afghanistan who is one of the star attractions in the ongoing World Cup.
A businesswoman, social media influencer and activist, Wazhma is a huge cricket lover and always supports team India. Apart from supporting her Afghanistan team, she does not shy away from showing her love for India.
She is a huge fan of Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli.
I mean who is he? 😳😳😳😳 🧿🧿🧿#MohammedShami #IndiaVsNewZealand pic.twitter.com/mj0IYxLCDZ
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) November 15, 2023
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she was all praise for Shami and wrote, “OMG, 7 wickets! What an impact and what a cricketer #MohammedShami Congratulations team India #RohitSharma #ViratKohli.”
She also wished King Kohli on his birthday and wrote, “Happy birthday, my absolute favourite. Wishing you the most incredible luck for the match today, you are not just a true ambassador of cricket in the world, but also the epitome of charm and charisma. May your every stroke on the field be as mesmerizing as you smile, and may you leave every cricket lover swooning with your extraordinary talent. Enjoy your day GOAT #ViratKohli.”
Congratulations Bharat 🇮🇳 what a win 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #INDvsPAK #KLRahul #Kohli #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/g84TPtgBtK
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) September 11, 2023
During the Asia Cup, she was also spotted supporting team India. She wore a jersey signed by Virat Kohli himself for the match and was seen proudly waving the Indian flag and cheering for Team India.
The jersey I am wearing to support my favorite team is the one worn by king @imVkohli himself in the #AsiaCup22, at the #INDvAFG match. It is also signed by him. I will change it when I get a new one signed by the GOAT himself. #AsiaCup23 #INDvSL #AsiaCup23Final pic.twitter.com/5rhuGq49p2
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) September 15, 2023
Sharing a few pictures from the match, she wrote, “The jersey I’m wearing to support my favourite team is the one worn by king Kohli himself in the Asia Cup 22, at the INDvsAFG match. It is also signed by him. I will change it when I get a new one signed by the GOAT himself.”
Indians fans were in awe of their skills and fully supported them on the ground. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan was so impressed with the team that he would dance with them every time they won a match. He even invited the whole team for lunch at his residence.
While the Afghani team won hearts with their performance on the field, batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz has been winning hearts off the field as well.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz silently gave money to the needy people on the streets of Ahmedabad so they could celebrate Diwali.
— Dr. Sheetal yadav (@Sheetal96184712) November 12, 2023
- A beautiful gesture by Gurbaz
It would be good if an Indian cricketer also did this. pic.twitter.com/RiDHFLgaje
Recently, a video has been going viral on social media that shows Gurbaz silently giving money to the needy and homeless people sleeping on the streets of Ahmedabad. The star batsman can be seen putting Rs 500 notes each near the people who are sleeping on the street at night.
He arrives in a car and silently puts the currency notes near the people while they are asleep so that they can celebrate their Diwali. This noble gesture of the Afghani batsman has been winning hearts online with cricket lovers applauding him online.
“Gurbaz is doing it without any PR or camera around on the eve of Diwali is the most touching thing you will ever see. This is why these Afghans are loved so much in India,” a fan commented.
Another fan wrote, “This is such a beautiful gesture by Gurbaz that too at night 3AM. It would have been even great if an Indian cricketer also did this.”
“He is making sure that everyone celebrates Diwali before he leaves for Afghanistan,” shared another fan.
Despite the loss, the Afghanistan cricket team has been one of the most loved groups this World Cup. Their performances have been top-notch with back-to-back wins. Cricket lovers across the world are super impressed with their performance. Indian cricket fans cannot help but cheer for the Shahidi-led team who are now the best Asian team after India.
They have had a record-breaking Cricket World Cup campaign so far, beating three former champions including England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as well as the Netherlands. While host India and South Africa have already booked a seat for the semifinals, Afghanistan had to win both the matches against Australia and South Africa.
However, Maxwell’s terrific performance broke their hearts. Now, they have to face South Africa in Ahmedabad. A win against South Africa will ensure that they will have the upper hand, but that is not enough.
Due to the low run rate, Afghanistan have to beat South Africa by a big margin. Their chances of qualifying for the semifinals will also grow if both New Zealand and Pakistan lose their next matches.
New Zealand will face Sri Lanka on November 9 in Bangalore while Pakistan is all set to lock horns with England on November 11 in Kolkata.
Speaking about the chances, Afghanistan captain Shahidi said, “As they say, the sky’s the limit.”
“As of now, our mission is to reach the semifinals. However, I would be happier if we won the World Cup. It is not that as far as if we reach the semifinals we would say it’s enough,” he was quoted as saying by Aljazeera.
In the battle between two giant-killers of this showpiece, Afghanistan rode on their spinners and brilliant fielding to restrict the Dutch to 179 all out and then chased down the target in 31.3 overs.
The win, their fourth in seven games, swelled Afghanistan's tally to eight points and also lifted them to the fifth spot ahead of Pakistan.
The Afghans, who defeated defending champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in this tournament, however, have two tough matches left against Australia and South Africa and their fate relies on the results of them.
Netherlands, who surprised the world with wins over South Africa and Bangladesh, are all but out of the tournament with two games left. They have four points.
The chase was a cakewalk for Afghanistan despite losing both their openers -- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (10) and Ibrahim Zadran (20) -- inside the 11th over for 55.
Rahmat's (52 off 54 balls) sparkling form continued as he hit his third consecutive fifty and with skipper Shahidi (56 not out off 64 balls) shared 74 runs for the third wicket to set the base for Afghanistan's comfortable win.
Rahmat finally departed when the team was on 129, handing a simple return catch to Saqib Zulfiqar while trying to go over his head. He struck nine delightful boundaries during his knock.
Shahidi, who is also in red hot form, made yet another half-century to lead his side from the front.
Along with Azmatullah Omarzai (31 not out), Shahidi stitched 52 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand to ensure a comfortable win for his side. .
Zulfiqar (1/25), Roelof van der Merwe (1/27) and Logan van Beek (1/30) picked up a wicket each for the Dutch.
Earlier, Sybrand Engelbrecht struck a gritty half-century but failed to push the Netherlands to a competitive total. .
Engelbrecht (58 off 86 balls) anchored Netherlands' innings after they suffered a mid-innings collapse. This was after Max O'Dowd (42) and Colin Ackermann (29) shared an attacking 70-run alliance off 64 balls for the second wicket after they elected to bat.
Netherlands lost Wesley Barresi, who replaced Vikramjit Singh, in the fifth ball of the innings, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman trapping him plumb in front of the wicket.
O'Dowd and Ackermann then steadied the Dutch ship before they suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse.
Three run outs jolted Netherlands' surge as from 73 for 1 they slumped to 92 for 5 inside 20 overs.
Poor judgement while running between the wickets and some brilliant fielding from Afghans derailed the Dutchmen.
A set O'Dowd fell victim to an unnecessary run out, caught inches short of the crease by Omarzai's direct hit from the deep while searching for a double. O'Dowd struck nine boundaries.
A few overs later, Ackermann too got run out at the keeper's end while going for a non-existent single.
Netherlands' slide continued as wickets fell like ninepins with wicket-keeper Ikram Alikhil involved in four dismissals.
Bas de Leede edged one to Alikhil off off-spinner Nabi and a few overs later the Afghan pounced on another nick off Noor Ahmad to send Zulfiqar back into the dressing room.
Alikhil then effected a stumping off Nabi to dismiss Logan van Beek.
A wearing Lucknow pitch too favoured the Afghan spinners -- Nabi (3/28), Noor Ahmad (2/31) and Mujeeb (1/40).
Talent, proper training, fighting spirit and hard work have contributed to the remarkable rise of Afghanistan cricket. Moreover, there is also another crucial factor to Afghanistan cricket’s rise and that is India’s guiding hand.
India has supported Afghanistan cricket in many ways over the last few years. Some former Indian cricketers have provided coaching to the national team. India has also provided Afghanistan players Indian stadiums and facilities to train and play their home matches.
Now, the result is visible in Afghanistan cricket team’s performance in the ongoing mega event.
Though there has been many surprising upsets in the 48-year history of the World Cup, lower ranked Afghanistan defeating the defending champions is truly unprecedented. This win sets the stage for Afghanistan to aim high for other cricket milestones.
“It is one of the biggest upsets ever. I am really happy and overwhelmed by their victory. They have made history,” said Former India batsman Lalchand Rajput, who was Afghanistan’s coach from 2016 to 2018.
Several Afghanistan players have become familiar with Indian pitches, grounds, and conditions for many years now. Some of the top Afghan cricketers have gained invaluable experience by playing in various Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.
Ravaged by conflict, Afghanistan has not been able to host international matches. However, India has become a home turf for them for almost eight years. Many Afghanistan players have played in places like Dehradun, Greater Noida, and Lucknow and they are cashing in the golden opportunity.
In 2023, tensions escalated between both players during a match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore. After the completion of the game, Virat and Naveen Ul-Haq were seen engaging in a heated exchange which garnered significant attention.
Kohli's perspective on the matter was evident when he stated in an RCB video, "A sweet win. If you can give it, you got to take it. Otherwise, don't give it."
Four months after the incident, during the 26th over of the second innings in the World Cup match on Wednesday, an unexpected moment of reconciliation occurred between Virat Kohli and Naveen Ul-Haq as they embraced each other by putting an end to the feud.
“He is a nice guy, a good player and we shook hands. It’s always in the ground, it was nothing outside the ground. People make it big. They need that stuff for their followers. He said we are done with that and I said yes we are done with it. We shook hands and hugged," Naveen Ul-Haq said revealing the conversation he had with Kohli on the field following the duo's embrace.
Interestingly, Naveen had remained rather unapologetic over the entire incident in the past months, that added fuel to the rivalry. Following the controversial IPL game, Naveen took to his Instagram profile and wrote, “You get what you deserve. That's how it should be and that's how it goes.”
On Wednesday, India registered a comfortable win against Afghanistan by 8 wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Rohit Sharma (131) scored the fastest century by an Indian batter in the World Cup. Virat Kohli scored 55 on his home ground.
India will face arch-rival Pakistan on October 14 in Ahmadabad.
Batting in his 53rd World Cup innings, Kohli crossed Tendulkar’s haul of 2278 runs with an aggregate average of more than 60.
In his 28 ODI World Cup innings, with an average of 50.60, Kohli has scored 1164 runs with two Hundreds and 7 Fifties.
Kohli is the third-highest Indian run-getter in ODI World Cups, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
Kohli has featured in five T20 World Cups and leads the batting charts with 1141 runs in 25 innings with 14 fifties and an average of 81.50.
The firework-filled innings saw records galore by Rohit Sharma, who became the joint-fastest to 1000 runs in a World Cup (tied with David Warner at 19 innings each), surpassing Chris Gayle's record of most sixes (553), most centuries in a 50-over World Cup (7) and the fastest century by an Indian at the World Cup (63 balls) -- in that order -- during the course of his 31st ODI century.
Chasing the target, Rohit Sharma unleashed himself on the Afghan bowling line-up from the third over, when he clipped Fazalhaq Farooqi for a boundary through the square leg region. Faroozi faced the wrath of Rohit in his next two overs as the Indian opener shot him for two sixes and four boundaries while India crossed the 50-run mark by the beginning of the seventh over.
Ishan Kishan was a mere spectator at the other end as Sharma reached his half-century with a single in the next over. There was never any respite on the offer for the Afghan bowlers in the powerplay as India reached 94/0 by the end of the 10th over. The Indian captain was not out on 77 in just 43 deliveries.
Rohit appeared to drop his intensity a bit after the first powerplay but soon wreaked havoc at spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was taken to the cleaners in the 14th over with three boundaries. The skipper soon entered the 90s and brought up his century in the 18th over while India crossed the 150-run mark with Kishan also closing on his maiden World Cup half-century.
Kishan, however, couldn't realise the mark on the day as he fell at 47 in a soft dismissal to Rashid Khan, who ended the 156-run stand in the 19th over. The wicket was also a reminder that Afghanistan skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi missed an important trick in his book by not introducing his best bowler to the game early in the powerplay.
Rohit continued his onslaught with Virat Kohli as the duo added a further 49 runs for the second wicket to take India past 200 runs. The skipper's innings came to a fold at 131 runs off 84 balls (15 fours and five sixes) with Rashid Khan castling the batter in the 26th over.
The damage, however, was already done as by the time Rohit went back to the pavilion, India needed mere 67 runs with 24 overs yet to be bowled. Former captain Virat Kohli and middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer no further harm came India's way as the duo added unbeaten 68 runs for the fourth wicket while India chased down 273 with eight wickets and 90 balls to spare.
Virat Kohli made his stay at the crease worth his while too with his 68th half-century as he scored 55* off 56 balls while Shreyas Iyer held the other end at 25 not out.
Earlier, Afghanistan managed to put 272/8 on the board after opting to bat first. Hasmatullah Shahidi (80) and Azmatullah Omarzai (62) added 121-run for the fourth wicket to lay the foundation for a big total before Jasprit Bumrah bowled 4/39 to take the momentum away from the Afghans.
This was also the best bowling spell by the pacer in a 50-over World Cup.
Afghan skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi (80) and Azmatullah Omarzai (62) took visitors to a par-total with a crucial 100-plus stand.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran showcased sensibility in dealing with the new ball and added 32 runs for the opening wicket. Zadran saw the bulk of the deliveries in the first six overs and scored a 28-ball 22 before he fell to Jasprit Bumrah in the seventh over.
Gurbaz and newly-in Rahmat Shah, however, soon stitched another short 30-run stand and scored at a faster rate to take Afghanistan past the 50-run mark. Shardul Thakur soon made his selection count as he took a stunning catch of Gurbaz (21 runs off 28 balls) on the fine-leg boundary followed by trapping Shah (16 off 22) lbw in the next over.
The two wickets saw the Afghans lose initiative early in the innings as they went from 63/1 to 63/3 in the space of three deliveries. However, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Azmatullah Omarzai soon showed the depth of Afghanistan's batting as the duo added 100 runs for the fourth wicket to bring themselves back into the game.
Hasmat-Azmat targeted the Indian spinners and pacer Mohammed Siraj to get crucial runs in the middle overs as Afghanistan recovered to 184 runs by the 35th over. The 121-run stand, the second-highest for Afghanistan in a 50-over World Cup, was eventually ended by Hardik Pandya, who castled Omarzai in the 35th over.
Shahidi (80 off 88) tried to keep the Afghanistan innings on track with Mohammad Nabi coming in at No. 7 but the partnership was limited to 41 runs as Kuldeep Yadav sent the skipper packing in the 43rd over.
Wickets fell thick and fast from this point onwards with the re-introduction of Bumrah in the bowling attack in the 45th over. The pacer first picked two wickets in an over of Nabi (19 off 27) and Najibullah Zadran (2 off 8) and then came back in the 47th over to dismiss dangerman Rashid Khan, who played a cameo of 12-ball 16 to take Afghanistan past 250.
Bumrah, however, couldn't take a fifer as tailenders Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman (10 not out) and Naveen-ul-Haq (9 not out) saw out the remaining overs to finish the Bangladesh innings at 272/8.
While Afghanistan remain unchanged, India made one change in their line-up with Shardul Thakur coming in place of Ravichandran Ashwin.
After winning the toss, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said: "It looks like a good batting surface. We have a good bowling attack to restrict them. It looks like a good surface, we want to bounce back with the bat. We are enjoying, good chance to showcase our talent. We are going with the same team."
On the other hand, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said: "We were looking to bat second. We saw the amount of dew last evening. Don't think the wicket will change much. Need to bowl well and need to come back and bat better.
"We were under pressure (against Australia) to start with, but KL and Kohli batted well, we take a lot of pride. It was a good game for us, hopefully we can repeat that and keep the momentum going forward. Ashwin misses out, Shardul Thakur comes in for him."
Playing XI:
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Amidst this confusing backdrop, the Indian team sans an ill Shubman Gill, is in the city with an eye on adding another win to its kitty when they face Afghanistan in its second game of the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup at a new-look Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, which is again expected to be a sea of blue.
The last game at the stadium in the tournament was a rampaging run-fest between South Africa and Sri Lanka, which saw 754 runs being plundered in 94.5 overs - the highest ever runs aggregate in an ODI World Cup match, including 31 sixes. With small boundaries and the outfield being fast, one can expect for another run-fest on the centre wicket pitch being used in the competition for the first time.
Though India are heading into the competition with a six-wicket win over Australia in Chennai, they will be aware that Afghanistan are no pushover. Plus with their World Cup caravan moving to Delhi from Chennai, India’s ability to adapt quickly to different conditions and pitches will be tested too.
"Just looking to focus on the process. That is the message that has been given to the team again and again that we just look to play our game well, we just look to do our things right and I am sure we have the team with the results. If we do our things right, the results will be taken care of. So that is what the focus is on,” stated batting coach Vikram Rathour in the pre-game press conference.
With the bat, India would want for the troika of captain Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer to get runs with the bat, after bagging ducks in quick succession against Australia. What India would also be keen to see is how Kishan and Iyer go about their shot selection, after rash strokes led to their downfall in Chennai.
An aspect which would have pleased India hugely was how Virat Kohli and KL Rahul weathered the early storm to share a match-winning 165-run stand under extreme pressure. While Kohli added another date to his list of acing chases, Rahul enhanced his reputation as a solid middle-order batter, who can bat in any gear and can handle pressure situations in a sorted manner.
From a bowling perspective, all Indian bowlers were amongst the wicket-takers. But with conditions in New Delhi completely different from Chennai, India can look to bring in a fast-bowler in Mohammad Shami or a batting all-rounder in Shardul Thakur in place of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
India have a 2-0 lead over Afghanistan in head-to-head record in ODIs, including a tied Asia Cup clash in 2018. But the last time India faced Afghanistan, it was in 2019 World Cup, where Shami’s hat-trick gave the hosts a narrow 11-run win at Southampton. But Afghanistan recently did something which India hasn’t done in a long time: an ODI series win in Bangladesh.
But the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side’s opener ended in a losing note to Bangladesh in Dharamshala. At 83-1, Afghanistan were poised to get a big total before a capitulation to spin of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz meant they crashed to 156 all out, setting themselves up for a six-wicket loss.
In New Delhi, they would be itching to put up a better batting performance to break their six-match losing streak, especially when facing a highly experienced and formidable spin bowling challenge from India, after losing six wickets for 62 runs against the Bangladesh spin department.
"You know, we play better spin in the nets sessions. Rashid, Nabi, Noor and Mujeeb, we play them every day. So, I think our team is far better in playing spin bowling. So that game (against Bangladesh) we struggled but you can't say that you are not good enough (on the basis of) one game," said Shahidi.
Apart from Shahidi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz also holds the key at the top. They would also want for their spin attack of their trump card Rashid Khan, along with Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, plus combine with Fazalhaq Farooqui and Naveen-ul-Haq to test the Indian batters when the stadium will be painted blue and would be experiencing another day of changing weather.
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdul Rahman and Naveen ul Haq
The most affected area is the Zanda Jan district in Herat, where 13 villages have been "utterly destroyed", Xinhua news agency quoted Mawlawi Musa Ashari, Herat's provincial director for the National Disaster Management Authority, as saying on Sunday night.
Earlier on Sunday, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, Mullah Janan Shaeq, said more than 9,200 people had been injured during the quakes.
The earthquake struck about 40 km north-west of the city of Herat at around 11 a.m. on October 7.
With communications down and many roads blocked, rescue workers are struggling to reach remote areas.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 465 houses have been completely destroyed.
Herat is located 120 km east of the Iranian border and an estimated 1.9 million people are believed to be living in the province.
Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes -- especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
In June last year, Paktika province was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands homeless.
The tremor took place at around 11.10 local time a.m., forcing people to flee from their houses, Xinhua news agency quoted the locals as saying.
There no immediate information on injuries or damages.
Officials are also yet to comment.
Well, social media users have dug out details about her and she is identified as Wazhma Ayoubi. Hailing from Afghanistan, she is a huge fan of Team India and Virat Kohli. After Afghanistan was ousted from the Asia Cup, Wazhma has been supporting Team India.
She currently resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and is a prominent social activist and successful fashion entrepreneur. Going by her social media handles, she is dedicated to empowering women and advocating for social change.
She is also an avid social media follower and enjoys a massive fan following of 107.6K followers on X (formerly known as Twitter) and 582K followers on photo-sharing app Instagram. She is a sports lover, especially cricket and supports both her country Afghanistan and Team India.
She calls India her second home and her love for India has left social media users in shock.
Taking to her X handle, she thanked her fans for the support and love and wrote, “To my beautiful family, friends, and Fans in Bharat, Namaste 🙏 I am eternally grateful for the love you have poured on me, and I promise to strive continually to be worthy of your admiration and support.”
She further added, “From the calm backwaters of Kerala, the historical monuments of Delhi, the cultural richness of West Bengal, the vibrant streets of Mumbai, to the tranquil temples of Varanasi, I have felt your warmth and support from every corner of this beautiful nation. The love and respect I have received from you all is humbling and overwhelming. Shukriya (Heart emoji).”
Exactly two years later, Imran Khan’s successor and Pakistan’s interim prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar is dealing with those very groups who took over Kabul. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with close ties to the Taliban regime in Kabul, has unleashed relentless attacks in Pakistan’s north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa almost on a daily basis.
Geopolitical analyst Mark Kinra told India Narrative: “The main task of the interim government is to ensure that elections are held in 90 days. The interim prime minister is close to the army, a known fact, therefore, we know that he will abide by whatever the army says. Considering the political structure of Pakistan, where the army takes decisions on most of the important issues including internal security, under the current arrangement, the Pakistani Army will take full responsibility for security issues in the country”.
Kinra adds that both the current hotspots on the border -- TTP attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral and the skirmish at the Tokhram border are the responsibility of the army.
That Pakistan’s interim government is mostly a helpless bystander to what is happening on the hot Af-Pak border is a sentiment echoed by other experts as well.
Kakar’s hands are bound because he heads a government with a narrow mandate -- a supervisory role that Pakistan goes to the polls in 90 days. A Pakistani activist told India Narrative: “Kakar and Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti along with the entire cabinet are toothless. The decisions are taken by the Pakistani Army in conjunction with the intelligency agencies in GHQ”.
The Pakistani expert said that the TTP has learnt fast from its erstwhile mentors – the Pakistani Army which is believed to have taken nearly $33 billion in aid from the US under the pretext of fighting the war on terror and used the aid to help fund Taliban insurgents on the sly.
“Pakistan and Taliban are on the same page but have different issues and priorities. The TTP is doing to Pakistan – spread radicalism and dismantle the democratic state -- what Pakistan did to Afghanistan”.
In the latest attack, a soldier was killed and six others including civilians were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up on a military vehicle in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Monday.
The incident took place just days after four soldiers were killed in clashes with TTP militants reportedly infiltrating from across the Afghan border. Some reports have said that the TTP has taken control of several villages inside Pakistan.
Hundreds of TTP militants are believed to have crossed over into Pakistan in Chitral, a sensitive region that borders the Wakhan Corridor and China’s controversial western region of Xinjiang.
To the south of Chitral, the Pakistani border personnel had a firing incident against the Afghan border guards at the Torkham border crossing on September 6. The provocation was the construction of a building on the Afghan side of the border which Pakistan claims runs contrary to the agreements between the two sides. Diplomacy and meetings between Pakistani and Afghan border officials have failed to resolve the issue.
Amid an intensifying diplomatic spat, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch even accused Afghanistan of “These [terrorist] elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan as confirmed by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report”.
With hands tied, the interim government is bidding its time as Pakistan’s strategic policy of using terrorists as statecraft comes back to haunt it.
“I believe that the situation in Afghanistan is very critical and dangerous and it's going in a dangerous direction, which could be a civil war again, or which could be a split to Afghanistan because you see that in last two years Afghanistan has been controlled by the terrorists and it has fallen into terrorist hands,” Lt. Gen. Haibatullah Alizai, who was chief of staff for the army at the time the capital city of Kabul fell to Taliban in August 2021, told PTI in an interview.
Alizai currently lives in the US and has recently launched an initiative to unite Afghans outside the country.
Expressing his deep dissatisfaction over the current situation in Afghanistan, the former Afghan commander blames the Biden administration for abruptly leaving Afghanistan and its people at the mercy of the Taliban.
The number of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan has expanded during the Taliban regime, he said.
Even the African terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab have established a foothold in Afghanistan and they have started training its militants, he alleged. “And everything is happening under the rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan,” he said.
“This is the situation. Al-Qaeda is active. Daish is getting more and more active and a lot of resistance groups are being announced and established against the Taliban regime in different parts, which will of course lead Afghanistan to another serious civil war or possible split (of Afghanistan),” Alizai said.
Responding to a question, Alizai said that Afghanistan under the Taliban is headed to become a safe haven for terrorists.
“I think the Biden administration made a big mistake at that time, or especially Biden himself. He had the opportunity to collect more information about Afghanistan and a little bit more deep dive into the situation in Afghanistan. But the decision was so prompt, so quickly and even without thinking deeply about the current situation that's going on in Afghanistan,” he said.
“However, we as Afghans and his administration, some organisations like Intel organisations and military even they told him that this is going to be a chaos. .. because we were on the ground and we were watching everything from a closed lens. Unfortunately, he never listened to anybody, the administration didn't listen to anybody and the situation, now you see where is it?” he said.
“And if they don't listen after this as well, I can tell you that Afghanistan is going to be worse than even before 2001,” Alizai warned.
A native of Helmand province, Alizai attended the National Police Academy in Kabul and the Advanced Command and Staff Course Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
First serving Afghanistan as a police officer, he focused on internal investigations for insider threats and championed humanitarian efforts for persons in custody.
Transferring to the National Directorate for Security, he was meritoriously promoted to Colonel and served as Director of Operations for the Joint Special Operations Coordination Centre.
Given his successful tenure, he was asked to join the Ministry of Defence as Director General for Military Operations where he consolidated organisations that previously operated in a silo.
Streamlining success, he took command serving as 209th Northern Army Corps and later Afghan Special Operations Corps Commander to quell the Taliban Northern offensive amid the Afghanistan War.
As the Chief of General Staff for the Afghanistan Ministry of Defence from August 11-15, Alizai provided critical leadership to manage the crisis during his position as Chief of General Staff.
He continued to lead from Hamad Karzai International Airport, supporting evacuation efforts until the US Military airlift ceased.
According to Alizai, the Taliban don’t control the entire country. The Taliban are in a worse position, he said.
There are four factions in Taliban: Kandhari Taliban, Helmandi Taliban; Haqqani group and those that went to Doha and did the negotiation with the US.
“Everyone is claiming power and some of the groups inside Taliban are not happy with the decisions that Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada is taking and how he is personalising everything for himself and just his own circle,” he said.
On the other side Maulvi Mansoor, which are called Helmandi Taliban, most of them have been killed in the last two years. The infighting within the Taliban is giving Daish a chance to expand its foothold inside Afghanistan, he said.
While Afghanistan's last-known Jew fled the country shortly after the Taliban takeover, the Sikh and Hindu communities are believed to have shrunk to just a handful of families, RFE/RL reported.
Under the Taliban, Sikhs and Hindus have faced severe restrictions, including on their appearances, and have been banned from marking their religious holidays in public, leaving many with no choice but to escape their homeland, RFE/RL reported.
"I cannot go anywhere freely," Fari Kaur, one of the last remaining Sikhs in the capital, Kabul said.
"When I go out, I'm forced to dress like a Muslim so that I can't be identified as a Sikh," she said, in reference to the Taliban's order that all women must wear the all-encompassing burqa or niqab.
Kaur's father was killed in a suicide attack targeting Sikhs and Hindus in the eastern city of Jalalabad in 2018.
The attack reportedly led as many as 1,500 Sikhs to leave the country, including Kaur's mother and sisters.
But Kaur refused to leave and stayed in Kabul to fulfil her father's dream that she finish school, the RFE/RL report said.
In March 2020, 25 worshipers were killed when Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militants stormed a Sikh temple in Kabul.
Following the attack, most of the remaining members of the minority left Afghanistan.
Again, Kaur refused to leave. But now, more than two years after the Taliban seized power, she said the lack of religious freedom under the militants has left her no choice but to seek refuge abroad.
"We have not celebrated our key festivals since the Taliban returned to power," she said.
"We have very few community members left behind in Afghanistan. We cannot even look after our temples."
There were up to 100,000 Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan in the 1980s. But the war that broke out in 1979 and the onset of growing persecution pushed many out.
During the civil war of the 1990s, the Taliban and rival Islamist groups pledged to protect minorities. But many Sikhs and Hindus lost their homes and businesses and fled to India, the report said.
When the Taliban regained power in August 2021, it attempted to assuage the fears of non-Muslim Afghans. The militants visited Sikh and Hindu temples to try and assure the remaining members of the communities of their commitment to their safety and well-being.
But the Taliban's draconian restrictions on Sikhs and Hindus have forced many to seek a way out of their homeland, RFE/RL reported.
Niala Mohammad, the director of policy and strategy at the nonprofit Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, said the situation for religious minorities in Afghanistan -- including Hindus, Sikhs, Bahai's, Christians, Ahmadis, and Shia Muslims -- has deteriorated sharply under Taliban rule.
"The situation continues to deteriorate as political extremist factions that claim to represent Islam, such as the Taliban, ascend to power in the region," said Mohammad, who was previously the South Asia analyst for the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
"This exodus of diverse religious groups has left a void in the country's social fabric."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s Tours, Fixtures and Technical Committee on Tuesday confirmed the venues for the home season 2023-24.
The upcoming season promises to be an exciting period for cricket enthusiasts, as the senior men's team is scheduled to play a total of 16 international matches, comprising 5 Tests, 3 ODIs, and 8 T20Is, the BCCI informed on Tuesday.
BCCI's Tours, Fixtures and Technical Committee comprising Amitabh Vijayvargiya, Jayendra Sahgal and Hari Narayan Pujari confirmed the venues allocated as per the BCCI venue rotation policy, the BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah said in a release on Tuesday.
The upcoming home season will commence with India hosting Australia for a three-match ODI series ahead of the marquee ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the season's biggest prize.
The ODI series will be held in Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot. Following the 50-over World Cup, India will play a five-match T20I series against Australia, beginning on November 23 in Visakhapatnam and concluding on December 3 in Hyderabad.
The start of the new year will see Afghanistan arriving in India for their maiden white-ball bilateral tour.
The three-match T20I series will take place in Mohali and Indore, with the final clash at Bengaluru, the venue where Afghanistan played their first-ever Test match.
Test cricket will then take over as India will host England for a five-match Test series starting on January 25, 2024. The exciting Test series will be played at Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala.
A Vice and Virtue Ministry spokesman told the BBC that businesses had one month to comply, starting from July 2 when they were first informed of the move.
The spokesman, however, did not mention the reason for the latest measure.
When the Taliban were in power between 1996 and 2001, beauty salons were shut as part of a wide range of measures imposed by the extremist group.
The businesses however, reopened in the years after the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
Following the fall of Kabul in August 2021, the salons remained in service but shop windows were often covered up and images of women were spray painted to hide their faces, the BBC reported.
Since coming to power, the Taliban regime has also barred teenage girls and women from classrooms, gyms and parks, and most recently even banned them from working for the UN.
The Taliban further decreed that women should be dressed in a way that only reveals their eyes, and must be accompanied by a male relative if they are travelling more than 72 km.
The restrictions have received widespread international condemnation.
As per reports, it will be a short tour and nothing on it has actually been confirmed so far.
“Yes, the Afghanistan cricket team will undertake a short tour to India during June, after the World Test Championship final which will be played at the Oval in London from June 7-11,” a BCCI official said.
The announcement of the Afghanistan series is likely to be revealed by cricket boards of both the countries soon. If it happens then it will be a big boost for Afghanistan cricket.
India is supporting Afghanistan cricket despite the Taliban takeover. BCCI has provided its stadiums to Afghanistan cricketers in Greater Noida, Dehradun, and Lucknow as its home base for cricket in the past.
Notably, Afghanistan Cricket had last toured India in 2018 in a one-off Test match. The visitors lost by an inning and 262 runs within two days in that Test.
On the other hand, India will lock horns with formidable Australians in the WTC final at the Kensington Oval. The Men in Blue are all set to travel to the Caribbean for a two-Test, three ODIs, and five T20Is in the month of July.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre of the Tuesday night tremor, with a depth of 187.589 km, was initially determined to be at 36.5227 degrees north latitude and 70.9787 degrees east longitude in Jurm, Afghanistan, reports Xinhua news agency.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Disaster Management Authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said five men, two women and two children were killed in the Pakistani province.
At least 21 women, 19 men and seven children were also injured and admitted to different hospitals for treatment, the Authority added.
Ensuing landslides have also blocked roads in the city of Abbotabad as well as the Karakoram Highway in the Harban area of Kohistan.
Major Pakistani cities, including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Haripur, Mardan, Chitral, Charsadda, also felt the quake.
Videos from Islamabad show panic-stricken people, especially those living in high-rises, rushing out of their homes, reports Dawn news.
According to initial reports, cracks appeared in the Al-Janaat Mall in Rawalpindi and buildings in Islamabad.
Following the earthquake, emergency response centres were established and an emergency was declared in hospitals in northwest Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered the National Disaster Management Authority and other institutions to be ready to deal with any emergency.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, two people died in the Takhar province and a third fatality was reported in Laghman.
Spokesman for the Public Health Ministry Sharafat Zaman Amar on Wednesday said that at least 44 people were also injured, adding that the number of casualties might increase as search and rescue operations are currently underway.
Acting Interior Minister Sarajudin Haqqani has instructed concerned bodies to provide humanitarian aid to the affected families.
The tremors were also felt strongly across north India, from Kashmir to Delhi-NCR and reports poured in on social media about people reporting fans and appliances swaying, while many ran out of their houses.
There were no reports of any casualties or injuries in India.
Tremors were felt over a 1,000-km area that spans India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
Earthquakes are more likely in this region because it lies at the juncture of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
In June last year more than 1,000 people were killed after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan's Paktika province, the country's deadliest in nearly a quarter of a century.
The National Center for Seismology, in a tweet, said that an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 occurred at 7.55 p.m. (IST) at latitude 36.39 degrees and longitude 70.66 degrees, at a depth of 200 km, at a point 79km south of Afghanistan's Fayzabad town.
This was the second time this week when tremors were felt in the national capital. On January 1, an earthquake of magnitude 3.8 hit in Haryana's Jhajjar and it also jolted Delhi-NCR at 1.19 a.m.
The explosion, according to eyewitnesses, took place near a Chinese guesthouse, Xinhua news agency reported.
The blast followed by gunshots, eyewitnesses said, adding the building caught fire and smoke was billowing from the guesthouse.
The Chinese Embassy in Afghansitan said it was closely monitoring the situation and taking relevant actions, an official from the embassy said.
Afghan officials have yet to make comment on the incident.
"Further rise in casualties from Friday's classroom bombing in Hazara quarter of Kabul: 53 killed, at least 46 girls and young women, 110 injured. Our human rights team continues documenting the crime," the UN mission here tweeted on Monday.
A suicide explosion rocked an education centre in a neighbourhood of western Kabul on Friday morning where a large number of students were preparing for an exam, Xinhua news agency reported.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
"Students were preparing for an exam when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the centre. Unfortunately, 19 people have died and 27 others wounded," Xinhua news agency quoted Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran as saying.
No group or individual have claimed responsibility for the attack at the private Kaaj education centre located in Police District 13, which teaches both male and female students.
In response to the attack, the Taliban-run Afghan government said security teams were at the blast site and condemned the attack.
Interior Minister spokesman Abdul Nafy Takor said attacking civilian targets "proves the enemy's inhuman cruelty and lack of moral standards", the BBC reported.
Footage on local TV and shared on social media appeared to show scenes from a nearby hospital, where rows of covered bodies were laid out on the floor.
Other media reportedly from the site of the private college showed rubble and upturned tables in the damaged classrooms.
A week ago, a similar blast in Kabul claimed seven lives and injured 41 others.
This was their first meeting since President Raisi assumed office in 2021 and the two leaders discussed many important issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship, and expressed their desire for strengthening the relationship further.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that India-Iran bilateral ties are marked by historic and civilisational connections, including strong people-to-people contacts.
The two leaders reviewed the progress in the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal, Chabahar Port and underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in the field of regional connectivity.
The two leaders also discussed international and regional developments including Afghanistan. The Prime Minister reiterated India's priorities of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and the need for a representative and inclusive political dispensation in support of a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan.
President Raisi briefed the Prime Minister on the status of the JCPOA negotiations.
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to President Raisi to visit India at his earliest convenience.
The letter clarified that Masood Azhar is likely to be in Nangarhar and Kunhar areas of Afghan province.
It demanded that the defunct JeM chief be found and reported to the Pakistani authorities and arrested.
The letter for the arrest of Masood Azhar has been written by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, no further details have been brought forward by the latter on this matter.
On May 1, 2019, the UN added the name of Masood Azhar to the list of global designated terrorists.
After the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2008, the US added JeM to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
India has been trying to ask the UN Security Council to declare JeM and Masood Azhar as global terrorist organisations, but China has been vetoing this effort.
Asif was found to have breached Article 2.6 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "using a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match".
On the other hand, Fareed was found to have breached Article 2.1.12, which relates to "inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match."
In addition to this, one demerit point each has been added to the disciplinary records of the players, both of whom did not have any previous offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 19th over of Pakistan's innings, when Fareed came up and made inappropriate physical contact with Asif after dismissing him. Asif had reacted to Fareed with an aggressive gesture of the bat in the penultimate over, visuals of which went viral on social media.
It took for on-field umpires and the Afghanistan players to come in and separate the two. Both players admitted their offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for formal hearings.
On-field umpires Anil Chaudhary and Jayaraman Madangopal, third umpire Gazi Sohel and fourth umpire Raveendra Wimalasari levelled the charges. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points.
Both India and Afghanistan are looking to sign off from Asia Cup 2022 on a high after crashing out of contention for the final. Both teams won their matches in the group stages. But then, they lost both of their two matches in the Super Four stage.
On Wednesday, Pakistan got a breath-taking one-wicket win over Afghanistan at Sharjah, which meant the Babar Azam-led side got themselves into the final against Sri Lanka on Sunday, knocking India and Afghanistan out of the competition.
"Left the ground straight after the team talk, had a green tea and then took some sleeping pills. It was a tough night. We have played well in the tournament; we could have won the last two games. We'll try our best to play good cricket against a big team in world cricket. Hopefully it'll be another good performance," said Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi after winning the toss.
India, on the other hand, have made three changes to their playing eleven from the six-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Apart from Rohit, pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal too miss out. Replacing the trio in the eleven are Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Chahar and Axar Patel.
"We wanted to bat first. We want to challenge ourselves as a batting unit. Rohit wants to take a break, playing back-to-back is not easy in these conditions. Even coming into this tournament, we had the T20 World Cup in mind. It's a good learning for us to play such a tournament before the World Cup. We have learnt a few things from the losses," stated Rahul.
Playing XIs
India: KL Rahul (captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh
Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fareed Ahmad Malik and Fazalhaq Farooqi
With their back-to-back wins against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Afghanistan became the first team to make it to the Super Fours.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bangladesh batters couldn't get going for most part of the innings on a dusty pitch, which had a fair amount of grip and turns.
The Afghanistan spin twins Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3/16) and Rashid Khan (3/22) bowled tight length and lines and spun their webs in the powerplay and in the middle-overs respectively.
When Mahmudullah (25 off 27) got out in the 15.4 overs, Bangladesh were 89-6 and it looked like they'd even fold for under 100. However, Mosaddek Hossain's 31-ball 48, and Mehidy Hasan's 12-ball 14 helped Bangladesh in some form of recovery and led them to a respectable total of 127/7 in 20 overs.
Chasing a respectable target, Najibullah Zadran (43 not out off 17) and Ibrahim Zadran (42 not out off 41) played fantastic knocks and led Afghanistan to a convincing win in 18.3 Overs, with seven wickets in hand.
Apart from Najibullah and Ibrahim, Hazratullah Zazai also played a crucial knock (23 off 26). Mosaddek Hossain (1/12), Shakib Al Hasan (1/13), and Mohammad Saifuddin (1/27) were the wicket-takers for Bangladesh.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 127/7 in 20 overs (Mosaddek Hossain 48 not out, Mahmudullah 25; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3/16 and Rashid Khan 3/22) lost to Afghanistan 131-3 in 18.3 overs (Najibullah Zadran 43 not out, Ibrahim Zadran 42 not out, Mosaddek Hossain 1/12) by 7 wickets.
"We need to see concrete progress in ensuring that such proscribed terrorists, entities, or their aliases do not get any support, tacit or direct, either from Afghan soil or from the terror sanctuaries based in the region," India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj told the UN Security Council on Monday.
India's concerns about terrorist threats from Afghanistan were widely shared by participants at the Council meeting held on the eve of the anniversary of the US withdrawal from the country.
Kamboj said that there was "a significant increase" in the presence of the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) terror group in Afghanistan and its "capacity to carry out attacks".
The IS affiliate "continues to issue threats of terrorist attacks on other countries", she said.
Kamboj drew attention to the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul in June and the bomb explosion near it the next month, which she said were "hugely alarming".
IS-K had claimed responsibility for the attack.
"The linkages between groups listed by the UN Security Council such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed, as well as provocative statements made by other terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan pose a direct threat to the peace and stability of the region," she added.
The UK, France, the US, Albania, Kenya and, even, China and Russia acknowledged the terrorism threats from Afghanistan.
The meeting was convened at the request of Russia, which, along with China, Iran and Pakistan, wanted the sanctions on the Taliban eased.
They used the terrorism threat to make their case, asserting that engaging with the Taliban, lifting travel bans on their leaders and releasing the country's frozen funds would pave the way for finding solutions to terrorism and other issues like women's rights.
China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun said the US should "immediately return the frozen assets", and Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram duly echoed it.
US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield countered: "No country that is serious about containing terrorism in Afghanistan would advocate to give the Taliban instantaneous, unconditional access to billions in assets that belong to the Afghan people."
United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said that the Council should use the tools available to it to make the Taliban combat terrorism.
Albania's Permanent Representative Frid Hoxha noted that pervasive ties between the Taliban and international terrorist organisations continue, while Kenya's Counsellor Gideon Kinuthia Ndung'u said that it should ensure that Afghanistan will not be a base for terrorist groups like IS and Al Qaeda to launch attacks.
Russia, joined by China, Iran and Pakistan, blamed the US for the terrorism in Afghanistan.
Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya said" "The US came to Afghanistan with a special mission, to fight against terrorism... In reality, their arrival to the country only strengthened its status as a hotbed of terrorism and a centre for the production and distribution of drugs."
He and Zhun said that the US and other Western countries should make up for their mistakes in Afghanistan.
Kamboj said that India has sent Afghanistan 32 tonnes of medical assistance, which includes essential life-saving medicines, anti-TB medicines and 500,000 doses of Covid vaccine, and over 40,000 tonnes of wheat.
These were being distributed through the World Health Organisation and the UN's World Food Programme to ensure they reached the people.
She expressed "concern at developments in Afghanistan which directly impact the well-being of women and girls".
"We join others in calling for the protection of the rights of women and girls, and to ensure that the long-fought gains of the last two decades are not reversed."
The Taliban has severely restricted employment, education and participation in public life by women.
The flash floods triggered by heavy rains on Sunday evening killed 13 persons in Shinwari district and four others in the neighbouring Siagurd, Xinhua news agency quoted the official as saying.
Several more villagers have gone missing, the official said.
The exact number of casualties and property damages are yet to be determined, he added.
More than 200 people have been killed and scores of others injured due to torrential rains and flooding in Afghanistan in the recent months.
Rally participants chanted "we want work, bread, and freedom" as they marched toward the Education Ministry in the Afghan capital before Taliban forces responded violently to the rare anti-government rally, VOA reported.
"August 15 is a black day," read a banner protesters were carrying as they demanded the right to work and political participation, chanting "Justice, justice".
Witness accounts and social media documented many women at the rally not wearing face veils, VOA reported.
Some of the female protesters who took refuge in nearby shops were chased and beaten by security forces with their rifle butts, witnesses said.
Heavy gunfire could be heard in social media video of the rally, with Taliban men assaulting female protesters. They also violently prevented Afghan journalists from covering the rally, VOA reported.
Amnesty international expressed concern on Twitter about reported use of "excessive force" by the Taliban to disperse women who were protesting peacefully.
Taliban officials did not immediately comment on the allegations.
The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan last August 15 from the internationally backed Afghan government as US-led and NATO allies withdrew their troops from the country after almost 20 years of war with the Taliban.
The hardline group's all-male interim government in Kabul has since significantly rolled back women's rights to work and education, barring most teenage girls from resuming secondary school in a breach of promises the Taliban made to respect rights of all Afghans.
Women employed in the public sector have been told to stay at home, except for those who work for the ministries of education, health and a few others, and must use face coverings in public.
Taliban's deputy spokesperson, Bilal Karimi, confirmed the veracity of the incident and stated that the explosion in the Shash Darak area of Kabul's Police District 2 "martyred" Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani, Khaama Press reported.
He had previously been a target of the Islamic State (IS) group, albeit it is now unclear who killed him as no group has claimed responsibility so far.
Sheikh Haqqani was a steadfast opponent of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K), and a supporter of the Taliban administration, Khaama Press reported.
He was among the Taliban officials who supported the education of women and girls, in a BBC interview, he stated that no rationale in Sharia law prohibits female education.
Since taking control when international forces began to withdraw almost a year ago, the Taliban claim to have restored security.
However, there have been frequent attacks in recent months, many of which have been claimed by Islamic State.
He is one of the highest profile figures to have been killed in the country since the Taliban returned to power last year, BBC reported.
Despite sharing the same name, he was not related to Afghanistan's Haqqani militant group network.
"In the wake of tragic earthquake that struck Afghanistan on June 22, 2022 causing massive destruction and loss of precious lives, the Government of India, as a true first responder, has dispatched 27 tons of emergency relief assistance in two flights for the people of Afghanistan", an MEA statement said.
The relief assistance to Afghanistan includes essential items such as family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mats, etc. As per the report, the relief consignment will be handed over to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) in Kabul.
"As always, India stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, with whom we share centuries old ties, and remains firmly committed to providing immediate relief assistance for the Afghan people", the ministry said.
India has also deployed a technical team in Embassy of India, Kabul. Indian technical team reached Kabul on Thursday. "In order to closely monitor and coordinate the efforts of various stakeholders for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance and in continuation of our engagement with the Afghan people, an Indian technical team has reached Kabul and has been deployed in our Embassy there", the MEA had said on Thursday.
India stands by the people of Afghanistan, he said.
"Deeply saddened at the news of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan today. My deepest condolences on loss of precious lives," he said in a tweet.
Deeply saddened at the news of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan today. My deepest condolences on loss of precious lives.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2022
India stands by the people of Afghanistan in their difficult times and is ready to provide all possible disaster relief material at the earliest.
A powerful earthquake struck a rural, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, killing 1,000 people and injuring 1,500 more in one of the country's deadliest quakes in decades, the state-run news agency reported. Officials warned that the already grim toll may still rise.
''India stands by the people of Afghanistan in their difficult times and is ready to provide all possible disaster relief material at the earliest,'' Modi said.
Deputy State Minister for Natural Disaster Management in Taliban-led government, Mawlavi Sharfuddin, said in a press conference that 920 people were killed and 610 others injured in the quake, the state-run Bakhtar News Agency said in a tweet.
The casualties were reported from Barmal, Ziruk, Naka and Gayan districts of Paktika province. Helicopters and rescue teams have arrived in the affected areas from neighbouring provinces and Kabul.
The Gayan district was the worst-hit area in Paktika, the news agency reported, adding that the quake has destroyed and damaged scores of houses in the region and also caused land sliding in Paktika.
The number of casualties might rise as dozens were still trapped under the debris.
The quake jolted in mountainous areas and the authorities dispatched seven helicopters with life-saving equipment and medical personnel to the area, while medical and rescue teams were also on the way to the affected areas.
Hours after the quake, acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund chaired an emergency cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a tweet by Akhund's office.
The acting Prime Minister has expressed sorrow over the loss of lives following the quake and expressed condolences to people who lost their relatives. "The meeting has ordered all concerned agencies to rush to the spot immediately. Use all available resources to save the lives of the affected people and provide all necessary assistance."
The quake, with a magnitude of around 6, jolted 44 km southwest of Khost, according to the US Geological Survey.