Sports

Champions Trophy: Afghanistan Captain Shahidi Claims Team is Fully Focused on Winning Title Ahead of SA Match

Published

1 year ago

February 21, 2025

As Afghanistan gears up for their opening match of the Champions Trophy against South Africa this Friday, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expresses his optimism for a successful start in their quest for their first ICC title. The team enters the tournament with momentum, having collected four consecutive ODI series wins against Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan has demonstrated consistent performance in their last two ICC tournaments. During the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, they made headlines by defeating three past champions – England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. They also reached the semifinals of the T20 World Cup held last year in the United States and the West Indies. “Our aim here is not just to compete but to win,” Shahidi told reporters ahead of the clash with South Africa.

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“We have played a lot of quality cricket over the past two years, and this is a great opportunity for us. The boys are experienced, and the conditions here suit us well. We are looking forward to starting with a win and maintaining that momentum throughout the tournament,” he added.

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Shahidi also highlighted their recent victory over South Africa in Sharjah, where they secured a series win of 2-1, stating that this gives them added confidence. “We are not feeling any pressure. Our focus is on performing well in this tournament, and I believe our team is fully prepared,” he shared.

The Afghanistan captain expressed gratitude for the local support they receive in Karachi, despite being away from home. “There are many Afghans and Pashtun supporters here who cheer us on,” he noted. “During our training yesterday, there was a sizable crowd encouraging us, which boosts our confidence.”

Looking ahead, Shahidi expressed hope for the return of international cricket to Afghanistan. “There’s a misconception that we lack facilities. That’s untrue. We have good cricket academies, stadiums in every region, and a High Performance Centre in Kabul and Jalalabad. The only reason teams aren’t coming is due to security concerns,” he explained.

“When we host domestic games, the stadiums are filled to capacity, with fans queuing to watch – sometimes more than 30,000 to 50,000 people attend finals. I am confident that if any team tours Afghanistan, thousands of fans will show up because of the immense passion for cricket in our country. We look forward to that day coming soon,” Shahidi concluded.

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Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

1 week ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.

Sports

King Kohli Creates Two Records in One Match

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bengaluru: Virat Kohli made history in a match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against Gujarat Titans. He achieved two big records in a single game.

Kohli became the first player in Indian Premier League history to hit 800 boundaries. He now has 807 fours. Shikhar Dhawan is second with 768, followed by David Warner and Rohit Sharma.

He also became the third player to hit 300 sixes in IPL. He reached this mark with his first six in the match. Chris Gayle leads with 357 sixes, while Rohit Sharma has 310.