Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran, a foundational figure in the country's cricketing journey, has passed away at the age of 38 after a battle with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Zadran, who received intensive medical treatment in New Delhi, was instrumental in bringing Afghan cricket to the international stage.
Afghanistan cricketers Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri, among others, have expressed their profound condolences following the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran at the age of 38 due to a prolonged illness.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have confirmed that Afghanistan will host India for a three-match T20I series at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi next month.
Several Afghanistan cricketers, including Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi, condemned Pakistan's military airstrike at a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabulinvestigation.
Rahmat Shah has been appointed as the new Test and ODI captain for the Afghanistan national cricket team, replacing Hashmatullah Shahidi. Shah, who previously served as vice-captain, will lead the team alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz as vice-captain, starting with the upcoming series against Ireland. Shahidi's tenure saw significant victories and milestones for Afghan cricket, including strong performances in the 2023 World Cup.
Afghanistan defeated Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI, securing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Afghanistan has secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland, while the West Indies, ranked 10th, will once again have to navigate qualifiers for the third consecutive edition of the tournament.
Afghanistan spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar urged the international community, including India, to intervene after a Pakistani military airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul on Monday killed nearly 400 people.
'We are committed to leveraging our influence constructively to support the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan'.
This was Afghanistan's 12th Test in last eight years and the defeat by an innings and 300 runs against India was a humbling experience for the team.
Rashid Khan's exceptional bowling performance, taking 6 wickets for 34 runs, was instrumental in Afghanistan's 92-run victory over Ireland in the second ODI, giving them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Hashmatullah Shahidi has resigned as Afghanistan's One Day International captain, citing a personal decision, though he will continue to play in the 50-over format.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is the batting fulcrum around whom Afghanistan's Test ambitions revolve.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus admitted his team's "rusty" performance in making correct DRS calls, citing a lack of conviction and poor decision-making during matches against India, which cost them crucial wickets. He also offered insights into the rigorous review process for on-field umpires.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes the exploding popularity of T20 leagues, particularly the IPL, poses a significant threat to the future of bilateral international cricket, stating that '70 per cent (people are watching club cricket instead of international cricket)'.
India's men's cricket team, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, has secured direct entry into the knockout stage of the 2026 Asian Games, with preliminary rounds set for other nations.
Afghanistan national cricket team players visited injured civilians in Kabul hospitals after deadly airstrikes, as calls grow for an international investigation.
Senior India batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, concluding a career that began in 2013 and included 85 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 20 T20Is.
England-born Richard Pybus has been appointed as the head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, replacing Jonathan Trott.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus discussed the upcoming one-off Test against India, highlighting the crucial role of spin bowling on the Mullanpur pitch. He also confirmed star spinner Rashid Khan's absence due to a long-standing back problem and workload management.
Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced injured Virat Kohli in India's ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, with selectors hopeful the veteran batter will recover in time for the England tour next month.
Former cricketers raise concerns over ICC's policy of awarding Test status based on limited-overs performance, following Afghanistan's heavy defeat to India.
Sunil Gavaskar praised India's team-first approach and clinical chase against Afghanistan in the opening ODI, highlighting KL Rahul's selfless batting and the contributions of Nitish Kumar Reddy and debutant Gurnoor Brar. Former England spinner Graeme Swann warned of a tougher challenge in the second ODI in Lucknow due to Afghanistan's strong spin attack.
Ireland's aspirations for direct qualification to the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup have been extinguished after the opening ODI against Afghanistan was abandoned due to persistent rain, mathematically ruling them out of contention for an automatic spot.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was on Wednesday ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after picking up a fresh quadriceps strain.
Manav Suthar took 7 wickets as India recorded their biggest Test victory with an innings and 300 runs against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Monday.
India will take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test from June 6 onwards at New Chandigarh. This comes after the Men in Blue suffered a 0-2 clean sweep loss to South Africa at home last year, marking back-to-back series whitewashes in two years in a row, after a 0-3 whitewash loss to New Zealand in 2024, which marked the end of India's 12-year unbeaten streak at home.
Ishan Kishan's recent good form makes him the ideal candidate to take over the crucial No 3 slot in Virat Kohli's absence.
India produced a record-breaking batting display, piling up 402 runs against Afghanistan in the second ODI of the three-match series in Lucknow on Wednesday, in a match filled with major individual milestones.
Former Afghanistan cricketer Shapoor Zadran is in intensive care in a New Delhi hospital, battling a rare and life-threatening disease called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
Pacer Gurnoor Brar impressed on his international debut before captain Shubman Gill played a regal knock to set up India's seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the rain-hit series opener.
India begin their 2026 Test season against Afghanistan with several selection questions to answer, including the No. 3 spot and Ravindra Jadeja's long-term successor, as they build towards key World Test Championship assignments.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan praised outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott for his significant contribution to the team's progress and elevated standards. Khan also discussed the team's future and the upcoming World Cup.
The limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka scheduled for March in the United Arab Emirates has been postponed due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
Manav Suthar made a sensational Test debut, claiming a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan in the first innings before Washington Sundar took four wickets in their 2nd innings, as India outplayed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs on day 3 of the one-off Test.
India will look to seal the ODI series against Afghanistan while continuing to test combinations for the 2027 World Cup, with Kuldeep Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal among those pushing for opportunities in the second match.
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes rookie pacer Gurnoor Brar could be the 'X-Factor' for India in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah during the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, suggesting he would be tempted to hand the 26-year-old his debut.
Afghanistan relying on seasoned spin trio to script first ever win over India
Teams like India do not offer too many chances and Afghanistan must learn to capitalise on the opportunities that come their way, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said.
Batting great Cheteshwar Pujara believes veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja's recent shift to a more aggressive, wicket-taking mindset in red-ball cricket will make him a vital player for India during the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
