Afghanistan
Afghanistan A Make History: Emerging Teams Asia Cup Champions After Victory Over Sri Lanka. Afghanistan A made history by winning their maiden Emerging Teams Asia Cup title after a strong performance against two-time champions Sri Lanka A in Al Amerat. The victory marked a significant milestone, showcasing Afghanistan’s rising dominance in regional cricket. With opener Sediqullah Atal leading the charge, Afghanistan A chased down the modest 134-run target with seven wickets remaining and 11 balls to spare, sealing their first title triumph in the tournament’s history.
Sediqullah Atal Shines in the Final Run-Chase
Sediqullah Atal was the standout performer in the final, anchoring the Afghan run-chase with his sixth consecutive half-century in T20s. His composed knock of 55 off 55 balls allowed Afghanistan A to maintain control throughout the innings. Atal, who has now been called up to Afghanistan’s T20I squad for the Bangladesh series, remained unbeaten, helping his team clinch the title comfortably and etching his name in the tournament’s history.
Bowlers Restrict Sri Lanka to 133
Afghanistan’s bowlers set the foundation for the win by limiting Sri Lanka A to a total of 133/7. Bilal Sami and Allah Ghazanfar led the charge, sharing five wickets between them while maintaining disciplined, economical spells. Sri Lanka’s Sahan Arachchige was the lone star for his team, scoring a commendable 64 from 47 balls. However, with minimal contributions from other batters, Sri Lanka’s score proved too low to challenge Afghanistan’s determined lineup.
A Tournament to Remember
Afghanistan A’s journey to the title was marked by stellar performances. They reached the final after defeating tournament favorites India A in the semi-final, a victory that underscored their potential. Despite a single loss to Hong Kong in the group stage, Afghanistan A bounced back, showcasing resilience and skill that ultimately led them to victory.
Afghanistan now joins India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan as the only teams to have claimed the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title since the tournament’s inception in 2013.
Teams to Win the Emerging Teams Asia Cup
- India U23 (2013) – Defeated Pakistan U23
- Sri Lanka U23 (2017) – Defeated Pakistan U23
- Sri Lanka U23 (2018) – Defeated India U23
- Pakistan U23 (2019) – Defeated Bangladesh U23
- Pakistan A (2023) – Defeated India A
- Afghanistan A (2024) – Defeated Sri Lanka A
Full Scorecard
Sri Lanka A Playing XI: Lahiru Udara (wk), Yashodha Lanka, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando (c), Sahan Arachchige, Pawan Rathnayake, Ramesh Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Nimesh Vimukthi, Nipun Ransika, Eshan Malinga
Afghanistan A Playing XI: Zubaid Akbari, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli (c), Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Shahidullah Kamal, Karim Janat, Allah Ghazanfar, Qais Ahmad, Abdul Rahman, Bilal Sami
Afghanistan A’s success marks a new chapter in their cricket journey, promising a bright future and sparking hope among fans as they continue to build on their achievements. With this victory, they have shown that they are ready to compete and excel on a larger stage, inspiring cricket enthusiasts in Afghanistan and beyond.
