da pixbet： Afghanistan were facing defeat against Nawshera at stumps onthe opening day of the two-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-IImatch at Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium
16-Oct-2001Afghanistan were facing defeat against Nawshera at stumps onthe opening day of the two-day Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-IImatch at Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium. Put into bat,Afghanistan were dismissed for 125 in 31.4 overs. Nawsherareplied with 224 for nine declared which left the debutantsto face nine overs for the day in which Afghanistan lostboth the openers to finish with 20 for two.They still require 79 runs to avoid follow on. Afghanistancricketers, according to information, attracted a largenumber of foreign media covering US-led air raids on thecountry in response to Sept 11 terrorist attacks on New Yorkand Washington.However, eye-witnesses said the day’s proceedings went onuntroubled. “In fact, it was a very peaceful day. There werearound 250 spectators and just four policemen. Though therewere no fences to stop spectators enter the field, they(spectators) glued to their seats and only appreciated if awicket fell or a boundary was struck,” eye-witnesses said.Afghanistan skipper Allah Dad Noori was not a media-shyperson when he answered the queries of the scribes indetail. “We are here to prove that we are not terrorists butpeace loving people. The international reputation we aregetting is incorrect,” he told reporters. However, themedium-pace bowler and middle-order batsman expressed hissurprise over New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and Board of Controlfor Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) decision to cancel the tourto Pakistan.”Their decision amazes me. Our country is being bombardedbut we are here playing cricket. There is no security threateven in Peshawar which is kilometres from Kabul border,” hesaid. However, when inquired how may of its players crossedthe border for the match, Noori said: “None. We all arerefugees and migrated to Peshawar during the time Russiainvaded Afghanistan in the 1980s.”Noori said his team assembled on Oct 5 at Peshawar and sincethen had been training at the Academy ground. Reverting tothe day’s play, in Afghanistan’s 125 in 31.4 overs, Nauroztop scored with 32 that included four boundaries. Abid Gul(26), Shafi-ur-Rehman (18 not out) were the other notablerun-getters.For Nawshera, Gohar Ali picked three wickets for 29 runs,Imran Durrani two for 39 and Rizwan 2-16. When Nawsherabatted, they declared at 224 for nine after being 212 forsix at one stage. Naveed Khan was the main scorer with 69that included nine boundaries. Akbar Khan struck seven foursin his 54 while Mohammad Asif (39) and Azam Khan (20) werethe other contributors.Afghanistan’s left-arm spinner Rahmat Wali was the pick ofbowlers with four for 22. Off-spinner Mohammad Alam (threefor 46), Abdullah (one for 46) and Allah Dad Noori (one for64) were the other wicket-takers.