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SPORTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2013 Afghanistan calls for support from cricket nations ISLAMABAD: Having qualified for its first World Cup, nothing happens.” Murad has also approached Sri Lanka fully it will come soon,” he said. 5 event - the lowest ranked ICC tournament. According to Afghanistan needs more support from the traditional through the International Cricket Council without any The ICC has chalked out a comprehensive plan for Murad, the country of 30 million has 280,000 registered Asian cricketing nations in order to develop its national success while he’s also still waiting for a response from both World Cup qualifiers - Ireland and Afghanistan players, who either play with taped tennis balls or the team further, according to a top official of the India. “I’m not going to wait anymore and will approach which include tours to European countries. leather cricket balls. “We have quite a number of talented Afghanistan Cricket Board. Afghanistan defeated Kenya each of these countries again and again, especially Sri Yesterday, the ICC said in a statement that it will give youngsters and you might see three to four new legs by seven wickets in a decisive qualifier on Friday to reach Lanka, Pakistan and India because we don’t have hope $1 million to the ACB as preparation fee for the World when the team plays in the World Cup,” Murad said. the 2015 World Cup, setting off mass celebrations in the from Bangladesh anymore,” Murad said. “We are very dis- Cup. The game’s governing body also gave $422,000 to He said Afghanistan has around nine grounds with country. But ACB chief executive Noor Mohammad appointed the way Bangladesh has been handling us. I the ACB in April as part of its Targeted Assistance and turf pitches. There are two main stadiums in the capital Murad criticized the traditional Asian cricket powers on think Afghanistan is in a very good position to play with Performance Program, aimed at raising playing stan- Kabul and Jalalabad while cities in north like Mazar-i- Saturday for failing to help the team over the past years, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and even beat them in some dards. Next year, the ACB is also scheduled to receive fur- Sharif and Kunduz also have grounds with turf pitches. saying India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have all failed to matches because of the talent we are having.” ther $750,000 in base support through the ICC And the base of cricket is also expanding in Afghanistan respond to his requests to set up games. Pakistan has not hosted any foreign team since gun- Development Funding Policy. The ACB is also in negotia- with 32 provincial teams and five regional teams, playing He said Pakistan is the only Asian country to support men attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore four years tions with Zimbabwe to play a one-day series and Murad in one-dayers, Twenty20 and three-day matches. the Afghans, despite dealing with its own security prob- ago. Murad sees Afghanistan as a country which could hopes that will be finalized in the coming months. Now Afghanistan is also planning to host Tajikistan - lems. Pakistan’s second-string team played a one-day attract large crowds if Pakistan organizes a full-fledged Afghanistan has also tried to play in the Asia Cup - a an affiliate member of the ICC. “We have donated some series against Afghanistan last year and the Pakistan one-day or Twenty20 series against Afghanistan in a city 50-over format tournament - for the last four years, but so cricket equipment to them and we will be inviting their Cricket Board allowed a team from Afghanistan to play in like Lahore. “If you give proper advocacy to these match- far they have been kept out of the event. national team to play against our A teams and regionals its domestic Twenty20 tournament. Murad was especially es I think hundreds of thousands of (Afghan) refugees liv- “Australia and England are providing a chance to teams,” Murad said. critical of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. ing in Pakistan will come and watch the match,” he said. European countries by playing against Scotland and Murad is seeing Friday’s historic qualification to the “I’m very disappointed in the way we have not been “Afghanistan can give a tough time to the Pakistan team - Ireland so it’s the responsibility of the Asian countries to World Cup as the beginning of a new journey for provided a chance by Bangladesh,” Murad said. “I’ve been especially in ODIs and Twenty20s and you will give a at least allow us to play in Asia Cup,” Murad said. “I’ve Afghanistan. “I was telling to my boys in the meeting yes- approaching them since one and half years, but no good message to the world that it is still a very good raised this issue in the AGM (Annual General Meeting) of terday that it’s not the end, in fact it’s the start of a new response. I’ve met their chairman, I’ve met their COOs international venue.” Murad said he has presented the the ICC but I’ve not been provided any answer.” phase because we’ve been beating associate members (Chief Operating Officers), I mean all their officials. In the idea to both the ICC and Pakistan cricket officials. “I am Afghanistan’s remarkable journey to the World Cup with good margins and that is a good indication that we meeting I try to convince them but after the meeting still waiting for a response from the Pakistan side, hope- qualification began in 2008 when it played in the Division can do better playing against a full member.” — AP Braves hold Dodgers at bay ATLANTA: The Braves are supposed to be a everything, but we’re down 2-1,” Mattingly team that relies on strong pitching and home said. “Yeah, you always look back at everything. runs. Instead, Atlanta evened its NL division You could have done this, you could have series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with done that. I think you look at it honestly and clutch defense as the complement for Mike see what you think.” Minor’s strong start. Heyward said he understood the strategy. Jason Heyward drove in two runs with a “Play the matchups,” Heyward said. “That’s bases-loaded single in the seventh, Minor what the postseason is about. You go lefty- allowed only one run and the Braves turned lefty there. three double plays in their 4-3 win over Los “I’m glad to have an opportunity to come Angeles on Friday night. The defense delivered through big for my team right there. I got a another key play in the ninth when catcher pitch and didn’t miss it.” Minor allowed one run Gerald Laird threw out pinch-runner Dee on eight hits and one walk in 6 1-3 innings. Gordon trying to steal second base. The Braves’ last double play ended the sev- The series shifts to Los Angeles tied 1-1. The enth after the Dodgers had runners on first Braves knew they couldn’t afford a second and third with one out following a pinch-hit straight home loss. “We definitely didn’t want infield single by Michael Young. to lose two games in front of our home crowd,” Reliever Luis Avilan fielded a grounder by said Chris Johnson, who had two hits, includ- Carl Crawford and made a quick and accurate ing a fourth-inning single that gave Atlanta a throw to shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who 2-1 lead. then fired to first to complete the double play. ATLANTA: Dee Gordon No. 9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dives back to first base as Craig Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez drove in Simmons said he didn’t expect Ayala to Kimbrel No. 46 throws to Freddie Freeman No. 5 of the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning three runs with three hits, including a two-run come to second with his throw. “I was hoping during Game Two of the National League Division Series. — AFP homer in the eighth that cut the Braves’ lead to he’d go home,” Simmons said. “He kind of one run. The homer added more value to caught (the grounder) a little weird and I was second and third innings follow leadoff singles when Uribe grounded out to hit the eighth. Heyward’s two-run single in the seventh. scared he was going to make a bad throw. He by Juan Uribe and Crawford, respectively. Kimbrel hit 100 mph again in the ninth when BOSTON: Ryan Dempster No. 46 of the Boston Red Sox With the Braves leading 2-1, Dodgers man- made a good throw and it was a good play.” David Carpenter almost lost the 4-1 lead in he struck out Skip Schumaker before walk- pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during Game One of ager Don Mattingly ordered an intentional Simmons jumped in the air after making the eighth. Carpenter walked Mark Ellis to ing A.J. Ellis. Gordon, running for Ellis, was the American League Division Series. — AFP walk to pinch-hitter Reed Johnson, loading the the throw to first as Ayala pumped his fist on open the inning before Ramirez made contact called out on the close play trying to steal bases for Heyward. Mattingly wanted left-han- the mound and Minor applauded in the on an awkward, lunging swing for a two-run second. der Paco Rodriguez to face Heyward, a left- dugout. homer that landed in the first row of the left- Mattingly said after watching a replay he Red Sox thrash handed hitter.

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