Afghanistan v Ireland, Neutral venue, ICCIC Cup 21-24 Jan

To be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Afghanistan squad
Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Ahmadzai, Hameed Hasan, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad†, Noor Ali, Nowroz Mangal*, Obaidullah Kunari, Raees Ahmadzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah, Shapoor Zadran
Ireland squad
AC Botha, P Connell, AR Cusack, PS Eaglestone, DT Johnston, NG Jones, GE Kidd, JF Mooney, KJ O'Brien, NJ O'Brien†, WTS Porterfield*, AR White, GC Wilson

How will Afghanistan go in the longer form of the game? Can they surprise Ireland? Will a couple of good results see them rushed into Test status alongside Bangladesh?

IRA vs the Taliban

Could be an explosive game

It's da bomb.

embee wrote:IRA vs the Taliban

Could be an explosive game

Spesh since it's an all-ireland team.

I hear Ross Kemp will be in attendance, doing his latest show.


Ross Kemp on Cricket Teams.

JKLever wrote:

embee wrote:IRA vs the Taliban

Could be an explosive game

Spesh since it's an all-ireland team.

...and good to see that some of the lesser known counties are represented too

County Transvaal
County Dubber
County Qbanjoland
County Kent
and two reps from County New Zealand

What about County Antrim?

embee wrote:

JKLever wrote:

embee wrote:IRA vs the Taliban

Could be an explosive game

Spesh since it's an all-ireland team.

...and good to see that some of the lesser known counties are represented too

County Transvaal
County Dubber
County Qbanjoland
County Kent
and two reps from County New Zealand

It's worked for their neighbours across the Irish sea.

Yeah, we're fine. Thanks.

a couple of years ago Afghans were claiming that they have bowlers who are as quick as the Pakistani bowlers.

embee wrote:IRA vs the Taliban

Could be an explosive game

Deano commentating then, I suppose?

And if they get someone to make the lunchtime appeal for victims of all wars, maybe Heals can be prevailed upon to bring his violin along? ...

This match deserves more attention.

Ireland batted through a day and a bit to manage 405. William Porterfield top scoring with 78. Samiullah Shenwari took 4 for 75 off 27 overs.

Afghanistan in reply 3/263 after 74 overs at stumps on day 2. Afghan captain Nowroz Mangal scored 80.

Looks like a battle for first-innings points.

Zat wrote:Afghanistan in reply 3/263 after 74 overs at stumps on day 2. Afghan captain Nowroz Mangal scored 80.

84 actually

go afghanistan!

A basic question: is the Afghanistan side made up of genuine Afghanis?

Shoeshine wrote:A basic question: is the Afghanistan side made up of genuine Afghanis?

I think there are more genuine Afghanis in the Afghan side than there are genuine Paddies in the Irish team.

That's great then.

And have they learned to this level in the last 5 or 6 years? Astonishing.

It's one of the real feel-good stories in cricket.

And it gives Pakistan somewhere to refuse touring on security grounds. It works all round.

Quick scan of the player profiles listed on cricinfo, all are listed as born in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan
Karim Sadiq, (born: Nangrahar, Afghanistan)
Noor Ali, (Khost, Afghanistan)
Shabir Noori (unknown)
Nowroz Mangal* (Kabul, Afghanistan)
Mohammad Shahzad+ (Nangrahar, Afghanistan)
Mohammad Nabi (Loger, Afghanistan)
Samiullah Shenwari (Nangrahar, Afghanistan)
Ashgar Stanizhai (Kabul, Afghanistan)
Dawlat Ahmadzai (Loger, Afghanistan)
Shapoor Zadran (Loger, Afghanistan)
Hameed Hasan (Negharar, Afghanistan)

Ireland
WTS Porterfield (Londonderry, UK)
GC Wilson (Dundonald, UK)
AR Cusack (Brisbane, Australia)
NJ O'Brien (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
AC Botha (Johannesburg, South Africa)
KJ O'Brien (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
AR White (Newtonards, UK)
JF Mooney (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
DT Johnston (Wollongong, Australia)
GE Kidd (Craigavon, UK)
P Connell (Dannevirke, New Zealand)

Kind of makes a laugh of the Irish desire to be a Test nation in the near future.

Then again, at least one other Test nation has had similar diversity of background.

i think its great that the afghans are playing some international FC cricket and not just limited overs matches. maybe india could invite them to play in the ranji or duleep trophies. we used to have an international FC team play in the duleep till pretty recently. maybe thats an idea worth reviving, but more for upcoming nations rather than FC teams from established test nations

It's something the 'senior' Test nations should look seriously at. It may even boost the interest in domestic tournaments. Of course, there's the small matter of swallowing some pride if the 'visitors' win the thing...

Afghanistan secured first innings points with 474. Mo Shahzad made 88. Still no hundreds in the match.

Ireland 28/0 with about 8 overs left in the day.

Zat wrote:It's something the 'senior' Test nations should look seriously at. It may even boost the interest in domestic tournaments. Of course, there's the small matter of swallowing some pride if the 'visitors' win the thing...

Ireland (and Scotland, and Holland) are routinely invited to English domestic tournaments. Ireland have decided against entering for 2010 as part of their campaign for full member status in the ICC. They gave a very nice thank you to the ECB for all their help:

“We are very lucky to have England as the full member in our region. They have been nothing but incredibly generous with the opportunities they have afforded Ireland at all levels, both within the domestic competition and at full senior level, as evidenced by the England one-day squad travelling over to Ireland recently following the Ashes Test series, not to mention the other help that goes unseen, such as coaching materials and advice.

“That generosity is now beginning to pay off, and we are starting to take the stabilisers off the bike and stand on our own two feet as a country that has an improving record of achievement against some of the best teams in the world.”

http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/about-ecb/media-releases/no-county-cricket-for-ireland-in-2010,308003,EN.html