The Afghan Cheetahs was a Twenty20 team established in 2011 from Afghanistan that played in Pakistan's domestic Faysal Bank Twenty-20 Cup in September/October 2011. The team was captained by Mohammad Nabi and coached by Raees Ahmadzai.

Background

Despite the Afghanistan national cricket team being a member of the International Cricket Council in its own right, its recent success has seen it invited to take part in this competition in its full member neighbour. This is similar to other associate/affiliate members of the International Cricket Council. In Europe, the national teams of Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland have all at some point taken part in English domestic cricket. In Africa, Kenya has taken part in West Indian and Zimbabwean domestic cricket, while Namibia takes part in South Africa domestic cricket. Similarly, the national teams of Canada and the United States have also been invited to take part in West Indian domestic cricket. Such moves are seen as a way to give associate/affiliate members of the International Cricket Council access to regular cricket of a high standard, which they do not have access to in their own countries, by which to improve their skills.

Fixtures and results

Comprising a mixture of national players and youth, the Afghan Cheetahs played three matches in the competition, losing all three. They lost to Rawalpindi Rams by 4 wickets, Faisalabad Wolves by 13 runs and Multan Tigers by 4 wickets. These defeats left the Cheetahs at the bottom of their group and eliminated them from the competition.

Scorecards

The following scorecards are the Afghan Cheetahs' results from their three matches in the Faysal Bank Twenty-20 Cup 2011–12:

28 September 20:00 (D/N)
Rawalpindi Rams Pakistan 163/6 (18.5 overs)vAfghanistan Afghan Cheetahs 162/4 (20 overs)
Awais Zia 60 (41) Karim Sadiq 1/17 (4 overs)Samiullah Shenwari 52 (32) Mohammad Rameez 2/41 (4 overs)
Rawalpindi Rams won by 4 wicketsNational Stadium, Karachi Umpires: Iqbal Butt and Shakeel Khan Player of the match: Awais Zia (Rawalpindi Rams)
  • Afghan Cheetahs won the toss and chose to bat

29 September 16:00 (D/N)
Faisalabad Wolves Pakistan 145/8 (20 overs)vAfghanistan Afghan Cheetahs 132/9 (20 overs)
Mohammad Salman 32 (26) Abdur Rauf 2/25 (3 overs)Gulbudeen Naib 68 (42) Mohammad Nabi 2/24 (4 overs)
Faisalabad Wolves won by 13 runsNational Stadium, Karachi Umpires: Shozab Raza and Zameer Haider Player of the match: Gulbudeen Naib (Afghan Cheetahs)
  • Faisalabad Wolves won the toss and chose to bat

30 September 12:00
Multan Tigers Pakistan 135/6 (19.2 overs)vAfghanistan Afghan Cheetahs 131/9 (20 overs)
Zain Abbas 54 (35) Naved Yasin 4/17 (4 overs)Najib Taraki 34 (24) Mohammad Nabi 2/32 (4 overs)
Multan Tigers won by 4 wicketsNational Stadium, Karachi Umpires: Riazuddin and Saleem Badar Player of the match: Naved Yasin (Multan Tigers)
  • Afghan Cheetahs won the toss and chose to bat

See also

External links