Javed Ahmadi

Burly off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall picked up a career-best seven-wicket haul to help West Indies bowl out Afghanistan for a paltry 187 and give his side the upper hand on the opening day of the lone Test on Wednesday.

Delhi Bulls notched up their second successive victory by registering an emphatic nine-wicket win in just five overs over defending champions Maratha Arabians in Abu Dhabi T10 at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Due to a finger injury, Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan is likely to miss the first Test against Zimbabwe that will kick-start on Tuesday.

Noida got its first taste of international cricket this week as Afghanistan-A hosted Zimbabwe-A in a three-match one-day series at Greater Noida’s Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium.

Skipper Manish Pandey continued his good form as India A outclassed Afghanistan A by 113 runs to record their second victory in the tri-nation one-day series. In an authoritative batting display, India A piled up a commanding 322 for 5, riding on half-centuries from Pandey and Rishab Pant.

Skipper Asghar Afghan hit his maiden century to lead Afghanistan to an imposing 307-3 on the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

A breathless century on his debut from teenage opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave Afghanistan the upper hand in the first ODI against Ireland as they reached 287 for nine from their 50 overs in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

"There were a couple of run-outs, and a few things we can't talk about because I don't want to get fined for it," Mahendra Singh Dhoni said at the post-match presentation, his irritation quote palpable.

Having secured a place in the final of Asia Cup 2018 being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India will take on the tenacious Afghanistan in their final 'Super Four' match on Tuesday.

The battle for cricket supremacy in the Asian continent begins in the United Arab Emirates from September 15, with six teams vying for top honours in the tournament that will concluded with the final on September 28.

India captain Virat Kohli and senior batsman Rohit Sharma retained their number one and two position respectively in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen, while pacer Jasprit Bumrah remained at the third spot in the bowler's list. Kohli, who had scored 89 and 63 against Australia in his last two ODI appearances, has 870 points to his kitty.

Star spinner Rashid Khan is likely to miss most of the games in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.

Not very often do you see spinners dominating Day One of a Test match. But, a 'heavyweight' performance by Rakheem Cornwall put West Indies in a position of strength on the opening day of their one-off Test against Afghanistan.

A remarkable maiden Test hundred by Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan recover in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, as the tourists ended day three on 199 for one on Sunday.Afghanistan had to show fight in their second dig after being shot out for 198 in the first innings to concede a lead of 241.

Fully capable of creating upsets in England, the Afghanistan squad includes influential players like leg-spinner Rashid Khan who can provide the spark at crunch moments and create panic in the opposition camp.

A chanceless maiden century by Shamarh Brooks lit up the proceeding against Afghanistan as West Indies tightened the noose on the second day of the one-off Test at Atal-Ekana Stadium on Thursday.

The Indian cricket team will hope that its untested middle-order gets some game time ahead of the grand finale when it takes on an ever-improving Afghanistan in the final 'Super Four' encounter of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.

World's premier T20 bowler Rashid Khan will headline a four-pronged spin attack in the 15-strong Afghanistan squad announced on Tuesday for the historic one-off Test against India in Bengaluru, starting June 14.

A breathless century on his debut from teenage opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped Afghanistan to a 16-run win over Ireland in the first ODI in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.