Beyond the Test World

We are excited about taking on SA

Hamid Hassan

25-Feb-2013

We have spent the last couple of days in Barbados and preparations for our match against South Africa are going well.

This evening we will train under the lights at the venue and I am really looking forward to seeing the ground for the first time. We have actually played quite a bit of cricket under floodlights in Sharjah, which is where we prepared for the tournament, so that doesn’t worry us. In fact, I love the atmosphere of playing an evening game.

We are excited about taking on South Africa and having the opportunity to play against the likes of Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis. At the end of the game I would really like to ask Graeme Smith for a photo with him and I might even ask whether I can get his shirt and his autograph for a good friend, who is a big fan of his.

A whole new experience

Hamid Hassan

25-Feb-2013

It is hard to describe how I feel after our match against India. I am very proud of our team and the fact we gave a good account of ourselves in our opening match on the world stage. However, we do feel a bit disappointed that we didn’t play a bit better and that makes us even more determined to do well against South Africa in our next match.

At every tournament we have played in our extraordinary journey over the past couple of years, we have always learned from our mistakes, and I really hope that we can do this again, although it is obviously a lot harder when you are playing against the best in the world.

We lost against Singapore in World Cricket League Division 5 and went on to win the tournament, we were defeated by Uganda in Division 3 and also lifted the trophy there, and recovered from some early defeats at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2009 to come within touching distance of qualifying for that event. We are serious when we say we want to go and beat South Africa and qualify for the last eight of this competition.

This will be one of the proudest moments of my life

Hamid Hassan

25-Feb-2013

The team is in high spirits ahead of our opening match of the World Twenty20.

It will be one of the proudest moments of my life when I stand on the field and listen to the national anthem being played before the match. There may even be a few tears when I am standing with my hand on the chest listening to the music. We actually heard the team practicing the national anthems after we were training and when they finished playing the Afghanistan anthem we all stood and applauded.

I am proud of my team and I know how lucky I am to have the chance to represent my country. We are ambassadors for our nation and to have the chance to play in a world event for Afghanistan against other famous cricket countries is amazing.

Zambia enter the World Cricket League

Zambia 214 (50 overs) beat Mozambique 194 (49 overs) by 20 runs Zambia have booked themselves a place in the World Cricket League Division Eight tournament in Kuwait in December

Tony Munro

25-Feb-2013

Zambia 214 (50 overs) beat Mozambique 194 (49 overs) by 20 runs Zambia have booked themselves a place in the World Cricket League Division Eight tournament in Kuwait in December. This came after their 20 run win over Mozambique in Benoni, South Africa on the last day of the tournament on Thursday to win the Africa Division Two tournament.

Zambia won the toss and elected to bat. They set a defendable target, posting 214 in their allotted 50 overs. The foundation of the Zambian innings was set by Salvas Palel with a gutsy 69 off 84 balls and Sharif Yousuf who struck a breezy 64 from just 51 balls.

Mozambique made a game attempt at chasing down the Zambian total, with allrounder Mohammed Zulpicus smashing 77 off 67 balls. However, there wasn't enough support and Zambia emerged winners by 20 runs.

Ghana 194 (48.5 overs) beat Sierra Leone 127 (39.3 overs) by 65 runs The all-West African clash between Ghana and Sierra Leone would have pleased the development-minded featuring two young fully indigenous teams Ghana elected to bat and eked out a painstaking 194 all out. Sierra Leone pursued the target purposefully, but losing early wickets slowed their progress. Captain Lansana Lamin's 45 from 57 gave some hope, but four wickets to Ghana's Lawrence Ateak broke Sierra Leone's innings and Ghana won by 65 runs.

We are very focused

Hamid Hassan

25-Feb-2013

After all of our preparation, it is great to finally be in the Caribbean, particularly after all the delays in getting here.

In our rise up the cricket rankings, it had seemed at times that nothing can get in our way, but after the events of the last fortnight it turns out that volcanic ash can! We had been due to arrive in the West Indies for a training camp 10 days ago, but due to all the flight disruptions we ended up having to prepare for the tournament in Sharjah, which was very frustrating.

In our training camp we were very focused on ensuring our preparation was completely focused on Twenty20 cricket. We have a great coach in Kabir Khan and he was helping us learn new shots, as well as improving the way in which we can protect ourselves from being attacked by some of the most aggressive batters.

Zambia has one foot on plane to Kuwait

Zambia 187 for 7 (50 overs) beat Ghana 125 for 9 (39.4 overs) by 62 runs

Zambia 187 for 7 (50 overs) beat Ghana 125 for 9 (39.4 overs) by 62 runs

25-Feb-2013

Zambia has moved closer to earning a place at the World Cricket League Division Eight tournament by beating Ghana in the top-of-the-table clash of the Africa Division Two event in Benoni, South Africa on Wednesday.

There is a place at the WCL Division Eight tournament in Kuwait in December for the tournament winner and the favourites won the toss and elected to bat on what initially looked like a good batting surface.

Starting off with a slight stutter, Zambia found themselves at 32 for 3 in their ninth over. A fourth wicket partnership of 45 saw them reach 77 after 25 overs. Godfrey Kandela continued his great form for Zambia scoring a workman-like 41 of 80 balls to stabilize the innings. All-rounder Meeth Naik (26) and Sharif Yusuf (22) steered Zambia to 187 for 7 after 50 overs. Kofi Bagabena was the pick of the Ghanaian bowling attack taking 3 wickets for 22.

Zambia & Swaziland win in Africa Division Two

Zambia asserted itself as a threat in the Africa Division Two tournament in Benoni, South Africa, with a resounding 114-run win over Malawi on Tuesday.

Zambia asserted itself as a threat in the Africa Division Two tournament in Benoni, South Africa, with a resounding 114-run win over Malawi on Tuesday.

25-Feb-2013

On another wet and damp Benoni day, Swaziland won the other match played, beating Sierra Leone by 30 runs after their target was adjusted after input from Messrs Duckworth & Lewis. Originally a reserve day in the tournament, the two matches played were originally postponed from Sunday. The weather saw both matches reduced to 46 overs each.

Zambia continued their good run of form with a comprehensive win over Malawi. After being sent in, Zambia found themselves in early trouble slipping to 10 for 2 before a third-wicket partnership for 64 runs saw Abib Patel (24) and Marcus Pieterse (34) restore a degree of respectability to the Zambian innings.

Imraan Patel's unbeaten 55 saw the Zambian innings close at 189 all out in the 46th over. Muzikir Khan shorn with the ball for Malawi with a sparkling return of four wickets for 31 runs in his allotted nine overs. Zambia coach Peter Kirsten described Imraan's innings as "a gem." In the run chase, Malawi found themselves in early trouble at 17 for 4 in the 12th over but middle order batsmen Muzikir Khan steadied things with 33. Godfrey Kandela was the destroyer for Zambia, returning three wickets for 15 runs in nine overs. Kandela's spell prevented the Malawian innings from team establishing any sort of foundation and were bowled out for 75 runs.

Ghana keep winning in Africa Division Two

Ghana , with an average age in the mid-twenties and featuring all locally-born players, have maintained their winning run at the ICC Africa World Cricket League Division 2 in Benoni, beating Malawi by seven wickets.

Ghana, with an average age in the mid-twenties and featuring all locally-born players, have maintained their winning run at the ICC Africa World Cricket League Division 2 in Benoni, beating Malawi by seven wickets.

25-Feb-2013

On a day when the weather allowed all six teams to get on the field for the first time, in the other matches, Zambia emphatically beat Swaziland by eight wickets and Mozambique defeated Sierra Leone by 43 runs.

Ghana won the toss and sent Malawi in to bat. Initially Malawi struggled before the East Africans managed 44 for the third wicket. Thanks chiefly to Mushid Qureshi's 52 from 82 balls, Malawi reached 188 from their 50 overs. In reply, Ghana's openers, James Vifah (76 not out) and Simon Ateak (33) provided a solid platform for their team to mount the chase. Victory for Ghana was achieved in the 38th over with a flourish, Samson Kwesi Awyah hitting a six.

The Peter Kirsten-coached Zambia sent a warning to the other teams in the tournament, with a comprehensive eight wicket victory over Swaziland. This was set up by a superb bowling performance by Mohammed Mitha who returned 4 for 10. He accounted for the entire middle order of the Swaziland batting, which started steadily enough with a 32-run first wicket partnership. Opener Esteen Sauerman was Swaziland's top scorer with 29 in a team total 78.