The islanders, led by Charith Asalanka, have quietly built a formidable unit combining top-order solidity with middle-order power and a spin attack tailor-made for UAE conditions.
The inclusion of Gill in the squad has raised doubts in the minds of management about who will open the innings for their side, along with left-hand batter Abhishek, in the tournament.
Shubman Gill enjoyed a phenomenal run with the bat in England, piling up 754 runs at an average of 75.40 with four centuries.
The Indian team management is unlikely to tinker with its playing XI for the inconsequential final group league Asia Cup game against Oman except for resting pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in Dubai on Friday.
Scotland, veterans of six previous T20 World Cup editions, were the big losers, failing to secure their spot for the 20-team tournament, losing to Jersey who chased down 134 in a last-ball victory. But Scotland also needed Italy to win.
The men's Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.
Cricket Australia gave the day-night match against Afghanistan the green light on Thursday when it announced its summer schedule headlined by a marquee series against India.
India will host Afghanistan for a three-match ODI series in March 2022, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on Monday.
Former India batsman Lalchand Rajput has been appointed as the coach of Afghanistan cricket team. He replaces Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had stepped down in April this year and became the chief selector of Pakistan. Rajput has been recommended by the BCCI and has been preferred over former South African batting star Herschelle Gibbs and West Indies' Corey Collymore.
The 2026 T20 World Cup is likely to be played from February 7 to March 8 with matches spread across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka.
The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) said the tournament will go ahead on schedule irrespective of India's participation.
Abhishek Sharma reached 931 ratings point, which is 12 more than the previous best rating of 919 attained by England's Dawid Malan in 2020.
Australia are still planning to host Afghanistan in the countries' first ever Test, Cricket Australia (CA) said, despite uncertainty raised after the Taliban seized power in the South Asian country.
Without giving too much away, India head coach Rahul Dravid hinted at the possibility of playing wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup, starting with the Super 8 opener against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan were granted Test status in June by the International Cricket Council, putting them in an elite group of 12 sides permitted to compete in the longest form of the game.
Ireland claimed their first Test victory when they beat fellow minnows Afghanistan by six wickets on Friday in a one-off match in Abu Dhabi.
There was poor communication and complete mismanagement between the stadium authority and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Rain had affected the buildup to the Test, the first between the two nations, with New Zealand not being able to complete a single practice session properly.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said his side will not hold back on aggression in the high-voltage Asia Cup clash against Pakistan on September 14.
Without belittling the poised run of the Proteas, Afghanistan have been the revelation of this ICC showpiece.
The Sri Lanka-Afghanistan fixture will be the second one at the Gadaffi Stadium and is expected to be a run feast. - Asia Cup 2023.
India has said it will consider engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and provide material support to the country in the health sector. The announcement came after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with the Taliban regime's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai.
Former Afghanistan skipper Nawroz Mangal, under whose leadership his side secured an ODI status in the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers and then qualified for the 2010 World T20 event, has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect in order to take up a role of the national chief selector. While confirming the news of Mangal's appointment in the selection panel, Shafiqullah Stanikzai, the Afghanistan Cricket Board's chief executive officer, said it is an honour for Afghanistan cricket that a player like the 32-year-old, who has a big fan following and respect among others, is the chief selector.
Following the match, Australian batsman Usman Khawaja took to social media to congratulate Afghanistan on their well-deserved win.
India pacer Arshdeep Singh linked his success in the Super Over against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super 4s match to his ability to nail the wide yorkers.
Rashid Khan opens up on rehab mistakes, how a break helped him rediscover his best following back surgery.
Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan heaped praises on the Afghanistan cricket team after registering their maiden Test win after.
Win over England will encourage youngsters in Afghanistan to pick up cricket: coach Jonathan Trott
Images from the T20 World Cup semi-final between Afghanistan and South Africa, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy ground in Trinidad, on Thursday.
After days of off-field drama, Team India was back on the field in Dubai at the ICC Academy, sharpening their skills ahead of the final Group A clash against Oman.
Former England batter Jonathan Trott feels privileged to have watched current India captain Shubman Gill's double hundred and the second innings century in the Edgbaston Test which had shades of another genius Virat Kohli.
Afghanistan will play a lone Test match against West Indies when they host the Caribbean side for a short series in November in their adopted home India, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has said.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh on Friday etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
Pakistan's white-ball vice-captain Shadab faces lengthy layoff due to shoulder injury
Arshdeep Singh prepared for the Asia Cup opening match against UAE by closely watching their batters practice in the nets in Dubai on Tuesday.
The two marquee India versus Pakistan games will be held in Dubai during the upcoming Asia Cup which is scheduled to start in the UAE from September 9, the ACC announced on Saturday.
His composure in the middle overs proved crucial, as Bangladesh sealed a comfortable win to open their campaign on a positive note.
He is also expected to sit out the home Test series against the West Indies in October.
Hosts West Indies and Afghanistan will indulge in a battle of one upmanship and strive to gain momentum for the Super Eight stage.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul-Haq has agreed to carry on working with the Afghanistan cricket team as coach for a two-year period after tasting success with the side in Zimbabwe.
The 31-year-old Asghar had replaced Nabi as captain in 2015.
