Sajid powers Afghanistan into ACC U-19 Cup final

KABUL, Aug 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Afghanistan continued their unbeaten run, trouncing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the semi-second final played at the Kinrara Oval Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The fourth successive triumph saw the Afghan side storm into the final of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-19 Elite Cup, Afghan Cricket Federation (ACF) Secretary-General Taj Malik Alam said.

In an exclusive chat with Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone from Kuala Lumpur, Alam said the national squad elected to bat first after winning the toss in the crucial outing. Sajid and Obaid Kunari shone with the willow, rattling up 82 and 76 runs respectively.

Consistently brilliant contributions from the youngsters, who demonstrated the right temperament and application, spurred Afghanistan to post an imposing total of 255 in the stipulated 50 overs, according to Alam, also the coach of the U-19 outfit.
In reply to Afghanistans daunting score, the coach added, the opposition were restricted to 215 in the 48th over, with Sajids aggressive spell triggering a slow but steady collapse of the UAE batting line-up.

The upcoming bowler, declared Man of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, captured four important wickets at crucial moments to hand Afghanistan a memorable result.

Elated Afghan players and their managers, with tears of joy welling up in their eyes, held aloft their national flag while taking a victory lap around the ground, the coach continued.

By the virtue of their fourth success in a row, Afghanistan meet Nepal in the final, whose winners will qualify for the World U-19 Cricket Cup, to be organised by the International Cricket Council. Initially, the U-19 WC was staged as a one-off event in Australia in 1988. But it has been held every two years since 1998.

Apart from Afghanistan, Nepal, Oman, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand are participating in the 10-day event.

The 10 contesting countries have been divided into two groups. Included in Group A are Nepal, Thailand, Oman, the UAE and Singapore while placed in Group B are Afghanistan Malaysia, Hong Kong, Qatar and Kuwait.
Reported by Javed Hamim

Translated & edited by S. Mudassir Ali Shah