Brazil drew 1-1 with Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday after Gerson's stunning strike canceled out Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde's opener for the visitors.

Brazil Held By Uruguay In World Cup Qualifiers

On Tuesday (June 27), India’s No 1 women’s singles player Ankita Raina bowed out of the first round of the Wimbledon qualifiers, losing to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The 30-year-old&nbsp;Raina was the only player from India competing in the singles draw at the championships this year, and with her campaign coming to an end, there is no hope left for India&nbsp;in singles.

Raina, ranked number 197, suffered a defeat despite winning her opening set. Leading 1-0 with a 6-3 win in the opening set, she lost the plot as she went down&nbsp;6-7 (5), 1-6 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Talking about Raina, she would be gutted to see the end of her run after being ahead in the game. Having won the first set 6-3, she was even ahead in the second set; leading 5-4. From thereon, she lost momentum as Maneiro made the most of her mistakes. She stretched the set to the tiebreak and eventually won before dominating the third set by dropping just a point.

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As a result, the Spaniard wrapped up the proceedings in two hours and 26 minutes to progress ahead.&nbsp;

So far, Raina has featured in the main draw at Wimbledon only once. In 2021, she lost in the women’s doubles with American Lauren Davis in the opening round. In the same year, she also qualified for the mixed doubles main draw along with&nbsp;Indian Ramkumar Ramanathan. However, she could not move past the first round, losing to Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna.

It is to be noted that there are no contenders from India in the men’s singles qualifiers as well as no one in the main draw of singles. Nonetheless, the draw for men’s, women’s and mixed doubles is not revealed yet and the likes of Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and N Sriram Balaji are likely to take part in the Wimbledon championship at the All England Club.

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On Tuesday (June 27), India’s No 1 women’s singles player Ankita Raina bowed out of the first round of the Wimbledon qualifiers, losing to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

On Tuesday (June 27), India’s No 1 women’s singles player Ankita Raina bowed out of the first round of the Wimbledon qualifiers, losing to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The 30-year-old Raina was the only player from India competing in the singles draw at the championships this year, and with her campaign coming to an end, there is no hope left for India in singles. Raina, ranked number 197, suffered a defeat despite winning her opening set. Leading 1-0 with a 6-3 win in the opening set, she lost the plot as she went down 6-7 (5), 1-6 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. Talking about Raina, she would be gutted to see the end of her run after being ahead in the game. Having won the first set 6-3, she was even ahead in the second set; leading 5-4. From thereon, she lost momentum as Maneiro made the most of her mistakes. She stretched the set to the tiebreak and eventually won before dominating the third set by dropping just a point. Also Read: Tennis: WTA roundup | Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff cruise in England As a result, the Spaniard wrapped up the proceedings in two hours and 26 minutes to progress ahead. So far, Raina has featured in the main draw at Wimbledon only once. In 2021, she lost in the women’s doubles with American Lauren Davis in the opening round. In the same year, she also qualified for the mixed doubles main draw along with Indian Ramkumar Ramanathan. However, she could not move past the first round, losing to Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna. It is to be noted that there are no contenders from India in the men’s singles qualifiers as well as no one in the main draw of singles. Nonetheless, the draw for men’s, women’s and mixed doubles is not revealed yet and the likes of Bopanna, Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and N Sriram Balaji are likely to take part in the Wimbledon championship at the All England Club. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Wimbledon 2023: Ankita Raina, India’s only singles player at event, bows out with a loss in qualifiers

Day Two of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers saw Sri Lanka thump UAE, whereas Oman completed a record run-chase to stun Ireland on Monday (June 19). After posting a mammoth 355 for 6, Dasun Shanaka &amp; Co. rode on Wanindu Hasaranga's 6 for 24 to dismiss UAE for 180 in 39 overs. Oman, on the other hand, achieved their first-ever ODI win over the Irish line-up and saw them complete their highest successful run-chase in the shorter format.

<h2>Hasaranga's 6/24 help SL thrash UAE</h2>

Taking on the hapless UAE at the&nbsp;Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, everything clicked for the Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders after being asked to bat first. The one-time ODI champions rode on&nbsp;Pathum Nissanka's 57, Dimuth Karunaratne's 53, Kusal Mendis' 78, Sadeera Samarawickrama's 73 and Charith Asalanka's 48* (23) along with Hasaranga's 12-ball 23* to post a healthy 355 for 6 in 50 overs. Ali Naseer (2 for 44) and Aayan Khan (1 for 52) were the top performers for UAE but their side was in for a huge run-chase.

In reply, UAE batters struggled to compete as Hasaranga trapped them with his spin to return with 6 for 24. He rocked their batting order with regular strikes, especially dismissing their middle order in a flash, as only captain&nbsp;Muhammad Waseem and keeper-batter Vriitya Aravind were UAE's top run-getters with 39 apiece.

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<h2>Oman complete a record run-chase</h2>

Talking about Oman-Ireland's face-off at the&nbsp;Bulawayo Athletic Club, the Andy Balbirnie-led side were put into bat. Losing wickets at regular intervals, Ireland were 107 for 4 but&nbsp;Harry Tector (52) and George Dockrell's 93 propelled their side to a challenging 281 for 7. In reply, Oman batters stood tall as they took charge of proceedings with vital stands to take the game deep.

Kashyap Prajapati's 72, Aqib Ilyas's 52, captain Zeeshan Maqsood's 59 and Mohammad Nadeem's 46 led to Oman's stunning five-wicket win.&nbsp;

Day Two of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers saw Sri Lanka thump UAE, whereas Oman completed a record run-chase to stun Ireland on Monday (June 19). After posting a mammoth 355 for 6, Dasun Shanaka & Co.

Day Two of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers saw Sri Lanka thump UAE, whereas Oman completed a record run-chase to stun Ireland on Monday (June 19). After posting a mammoth 355 for 6, Dasun Shanaka & Co. rode on Wanindu Hasaranga's 6 for 24 to dismiss UAE for 180 in 39 overs. Oman, on the other hand, achieved their first-ever ODI win over the Irish line-up and saw them complete their highest successful run-chase in the shorter format. Hasaranga's 6/24 help SL thrash UAE Taking on the hapless UAE at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, everything clicked for the Dasun Shanaka-led Islanders after being asked to bat first. The one-time ODI champions rode on Pathum Nissanka's 57, Dimuth Karunaratne's 53, Kusal Mendis' 78, Sadeera Samarawickrama's 73 and Charith Asalanka's 48* (23) along with Hasaranga's 12-ball 23* to post a healthy 355 for 6 in 50 overs. Ali Naseer (2 for 44) and Aayan Khan (1 for 52) were the top performers for UAE but their side was in for a huge run-chase. In reply, UAE batters struggled to compete as Hasaranga trapped them with his spin to return with 6 for 24. He rocked their batting order with regular strikes, especially dismissing their middle order in a flash, as only captain Muhammad Waseem and keeper-batter Vriitya Aravind were UAE's top run-getters with 39 apiece. Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah to return during Ireland T20Is before Asia Cup and ODI World Cup: Report Oman complete a record run-chase Talking about Oman-Ireland's face-off at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, the Andy Balbirnie-led side were put into bat. Losing wickets at regular intervals, Ireland were 107 for 4 but Harry Tector (52) and George Dockrell's 93 propelled their side to a challenging 281 for 7. In reply, Oman batters stood tall as they took charge of proceedings with vital stands to take the game deep. Kashyap Prajapati's 72, Aqib Ilyas's 52, captain Zeeshan Maqsood's 59 and Mohammad Nadeem's 46 led to Oman's stunning five-wicket win.

CWC'23 Qualifiers: Sri Lanka thump UAE by 175 runs, Oman stun Ireland in pursuit of 282

ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023: The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 qualifiers began on June 18, 2023, with two matches, Zimbabwe vs Nepal and West Indies vs USA.

ICC World Cup Qualifier 2023: The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 qualifiers began on June 18, 2023, with two matches, Zimbabwe vs Nepal and West Indies vs USA. Ten teams will square off in the upcoming matches to grab the final two spots at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. The winner and runner-up teams of the qualifying tournament will reserve their seat in the all-important ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, scheduled in India in October. The ten teams, divided into two groups of five, will follow a round-robin series within the groups. Zimbabwe will host the qualifying tournament from June 18 to July 9. However, the group stage matches will end on June 27, and the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six Stage, starting June 29. Then, the top two teams will qualify for the CWC Qualifier Final on July 9, securing their spot in the Men's Cricket World Cup. Here's everything you need to know about the ICC World Cup qualifiers 2023. World Cup Qualifier 2023 Groups Groups A and B of the ICC World Cup 2023 will be playing a round-robin series within the group. Group A has the Netherlands, Nepal, the United States, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Group B has Ireland, Oman, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. World Cup Qualifier 2023 Schedule Sunday, June 18 Zimbabwe v Nepal, Harare Sports Club; West Indies v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club Monday, June 19 Sri Lanka v UAE, Queens Sports Club; Ireland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club Tuesday, June 20 Zimbabwe v Netherlands, Harare Sports Club; Nepal v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club Wednesday, June 21 Ireland v Scotland, Queen's Sports Club; Oman v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club Thursday, June 22 West Indies v Nepal, Harare Sports Club; Netherlands v USA, Takashinga Cricket Club Friday, June 23 Sri Lanka v Oman, Queen's Sports Club; Scotland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club Saturday, June 24 Zimbabwe v West Indies, Harare Sports Club; Netherlands v Nepal, Takashinga Cricket Club Sunday, June 25 Sri Lanka v Ireland, Queen's Sports Club; Scotland v Oman, Bulawayo Athletic Club Monday, June 26 Zimbabwe v USA, Harare Sports Club; West Indies v Netherlands, Takashinga Cricket Club Tuesday, June 27 Sri Lanka v Scotland, Queen's Sports Club; Ireland v UAE, Bulawayo Athletic Club Thursday,June 29 Super 6: A2 v B2, Queen’s Sports Club Friday, June 30 Super 6: A3 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club; Playoff: A5 v B4, Takashinga Cricket Club Saturday, July 1 Super 6: A1 v B3, Harare Sports Club Sunday, July 2 Super 6: A2 v B1, Queen’s Sports Club; Playoff: A4 v B5, Takashinga Cricket Club Monday, July 3 Super 6: A3 v B2, Harare Sports Club Tuesday, July 4 Super 6: A2 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club; Playoff: 7th v 8th Takashinga Cricket Club Wednesday, July 5 Super Six: A1 v B2, Harare Sports Club Thursday, July 6 Super Six: A3 v B3, Queen’s Sports Club; Playoff: 9th v 10th Takashinga Cricket Club Friday, July 7 Super Six: A1 v B1, Harare Sports Club Sunday, July 9 Final, Harare Sports Club ALSO READ | ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier live-streaming: When & where to watch Qualifier matches live on mobile, TV World Cup Qualifiers 2023 Squads Ireland: Andrew Balbirnie (c), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Graham Hume, Josh Little, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, PJ Moor, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young. Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Gyanendra Malla, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Bhim Sharki, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish JC, Arjun Saud, Kishor Mahato. Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Logan van Beek, Vikram Singh, Aryan Dutt, Viv Kingma, Bas de Leede, Noah Croes, Ryan Klein, Teja Nidamanuru, Wesley Barresi, Shariz Ahmad, Clayton Floyd, Michael Levitt, Saqib Zulfiqar Oman: Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Aqib Ilyas (vc), Jatinder Singh, Kashyap Prajapati, Shoaib Khan, Mohammed Nadeem, Sandeep Goud, Ayaan Khan, Suraj Kumar, Adeel Shafique, Naseem Khushi, Bilal Khan, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Jay Odedra, Samay Shrivastav, Rafiullah Scotland: Richie Berrington (c), Matthew Cross, Alasdair Evans, Chris Greaves, Jack Jarvis, Michael Leask, Tom Mackintosh, Chris McBride, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Adrian Neill, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Hamza Tahir, Mark Watt Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc & wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushan Hemantha UAE: Mohammad Waseem (c), Ethan D'Souza, Ali Naseer, Vriitya Aravind, Rameez Shahzad, Jawadullah, Asif Khan, Rohan Mustafa, Aayan Khan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan, Sanchit Sharma, Aryansh Sharma, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed USA: Monank Patel (c), Aaron Jones (vc), Abhishek Paradkar, Ali Khan, Gajanand Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Kyle Philip, Nisarg Patel, Nostush Kenjige, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Saurabh Netravalkar, Shayan Jahangir, Steven Taylor, Sushant Modani, Usman Rafiq West Indies: Shai Hope (c), Rovman Powell (vc), Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd Zimbabwe: Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine, Bradley Evans, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams World Cup Qualifiers 2023 Live Streaming Details In India, World Cup Qualifier 2023 Live Telecast will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. Here is the list of broadcasters mentioned by ICC. Territory Licensee TV Exploitation Digital Exploitation Afghanistan Ariana TV All matches live on Ariana TV All 34 matches will be live on Ariana TV & arianatelevision.com, sports.afghan-wireless.com & ariananews.af Australia Fox Sports Selected matches live on Fox Cricket(Fox Sports 501). All 34 games will be on FoxtelGo, Foxtel Now and Kayo. Bangladesh Spordium(Gazi TV) Selected matches live on Gazi TV. All 34 matches will be live on Rabbithole and Toffee. Canada Hotstar N/A All 34 matches on Hotstar Willow TV Selected matches live on Willow TV N/A Caribbean Islands ESPN Caribbean Selected matches live on ESPN and ESPN 2. All 34 games will be live on ESPN Play. Central and South America, and Mexico ESPN N/A All 34 games will be live on ESPN+ Continental Europe and South-East Asia (excluding Singapore, Malaysia and HK) Yupp TV N/A All 34 games on Yupp TV Hong Kong PCCW All matches live on Ch. 674 (Astro Cricket Channel) All 34 games on Yupp TV India Star Sports Selected matches live on SS1 SD+HD. All 34 matches live on Disney+Hotstar and FanCode. Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh Star Sports elected matches live on SS1 SD+HD All 34 matches live on Yupp TV(excluding Bangladesh) Malaysia MEASAT All matches live on Astro Cricket, Astro Cricket+ All 34 matches will be live on AstroGo MENA Etisalat All matches live on CricLife, CricLife Max All 34 matches will be live on StarzPlay, Switch TV, Du Nepal Star Sports/Net TV Selected matches live on SS 1 SD+HD All 34 games live on Net TV New Zealand Sky Sport NZ Selected matches live on Sky Sport 1-9, Sky Sport Select, Pop Up 1. All 34 games will be live on SkyGo and SkySport Now Pacific Islands PNG Digicel TBC TBC Pakistan PTV Selected matches live on PTV Sports. PTV Sports App will show the all 34 matches live. ARY Selected matches live on A Sports ARY ZAPP will show all 34 matches live. Singapore StarHub All matches live on HubSpots 4 and HubSpots5 All 34 games will be live on StarHub TV+ Sri Lanka Maharaja TV All matches live on TV1 or Sirasa TV All 34 matches will be live on Maharaja TV's designated website(details to be confirmed shortly). South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa SuperSport Selected matches live on Sky Sports Grandstand and SuperSport Cricket. All 34 games will be live on the SuperSport app. UK and Ireland Sky Sports Selected matches live on Sky Sports Cricket. All 34 games will be live on the Sky Sports app. USA ESPN+ N/A All 34 games will be live on ESPN+ Willow Selected matches live on Willow TV. N/A WATCH WION LIVE HERE

ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023: Check live streaming details, full squad, schedule & all you need to know

In a crucial game in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, Asian champions Sri Lanka were up against the Netherlands in a Group A clash. With two back-to-back wins, the Dutch line-up had the edge whereas Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lankan team had to win to keep their hopes of qualifying into the main draw of the tournament, which kicks off on October 22 (Saturday). In another thrilling clash during the qualifiers, the Sri Lankans kept their cool to beat the Netherlands by 16 runs and enter the Super 12 round. They have four points, along with the Netherlands, who will now wait for the outcome of the Namibia-UAE game to know their fate in the tournament.

Opting to bat first in a crucial game, Shanaka-led Sri Lanka were 36 for no loss but opener Patham Nissanka didn't get off to a flier. His stay in the middle was finally cut short after he was dismissed for 14 (21) but Kusal Mendis held one held.&nbsp;Charith Asalanka played a handy 30-ball 31 whereas hard-hitter Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 13-ball 19 not out and Mendis' late strikes took the Lankans to a competitive 162-6. Mendis remained unbeaten on 79 off 44 deliveries, laced with five fours and an equal number of sixes.

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In reply, the Netherlands had nothing to lose and didn't have a tall total to chase. Yet, it was a tricky target against the Lankans, who were fired up given it was a do-or-die game for them. The Dutch didn't get off to a strong start as Vikramjit Singh fell for seven whereas the middle order didn't stand tall in the run-chase. Skipper&nbsp;Scott Edwards (15-ball 21) upped the ante by cleverly bisecting the field whereas opener&nbsp;Max ODowd held one end amid the regular fall of wickets. Lahiru Kumara and&nbsp;Binura Fernando picked a wicket each but the two spinners -- Wanindu Hasaranga (3 for 28) and Maheesh Theekshana (2 for 32) starred with the ball and kept Netherlands' run-chase under check.

With ODowd going bonkers versus Fernando and Theekshana, in the 18th and 19th over respectively, the match went down to the wire with SL needing 23 to defend off the last six balls.&nbsp;Kumara kept his cool and delivered for the one-time winners as they have now entered the Super 12.

If Namibia lose, the Netherlands will go through. On the other hand, Namibians will aim to get to four points with a victory over UAE. At present, the Netherlands have a negative NRR&nbsp;(-0.162) whereas Namibia's NRR is an impressive&nbsp;+1.277. Hence, it is an easy equation for Namibia. Win and go through.

In a crucial game in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, Asian champions Sri Lanka were up against the Netherlands in a Group A clash. With two back-to-back wins, the Dutch line-up had the edge whereas Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lankan team had to win to keep their hopes of qualifying into the main draw of the tournament, which kicks off on October 22 (Saturday).

In a crucial game in the T20 World Cup qualifiers, Asian champions Sri Lanka were up against the Netherlands in a Group A clash. With two back-to-back wins, the Dutch line-up had the edge whereas Dasun Shanaka's Sri Lankan team had to win to keep their hopes of qualifying into the main draw of the tournament, which kicks off on October 22 (Saturday). In another thrilling clash during the qualifiers, the Sri Lankans kept their cool to beat the Netherlands by 16 runs and enter the Super 12 round. They have four points, along with the Netherlands, who will now wait for the outcome of the Namibia-UAE game to know their fate in the tournament. Opting to bat first in a crucial game, Shanaka-led Sri Lanka were 36 for no loss but opener Patham Nissanka didn't get off to a flier. His stay in the middle was finally cut short after he was dismissed for 14 (21) but Kusal Mendis held one held. Charith Asalanka played a handy 30-ball 31 whereas hard-hitter Bhanuka Rajapaksa's 13-ball 19 not out and Mendis' late strikes took the Lankans to a competitive 162-6. Mendis remained unbeaten on 79 off 44 deliveries, laced with five fours and an equal number of sixes. ALSO READ | Amid BCCI vs PCB for Asia Cup, Kamran Akmal calls for Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup clash vs India In reply, the Netherlands had nothing to lose and didn't have a tall total to chase. Yet, it was a tricky target against the Lankans, who were fired up given it was a do-or-die game for them. The Dutch didn't get off to a strong start as Vikramjit Singh fell for seven whereas the middle order didn't stand tall in the run-chase. Skipper Scott Edwards (15-ball 21) upped the ante by cleverly bisecting the field whereas opener Max ODowd held one end amid the regular fall of wickets. Lahiru Kumara and Binura Fernando picked a wicket each but the two spinners -- Wanindu Hasaranga (3 for 28) and Maheesh Theekshana (2 for 32) starred with the ball and kept Netherlands' run-chase under check. With ODowd going bonkers versus Fernando and Theekshana, in the 18th and 19th over respectively, the match went down to the wire with SL needing 23 to defend off the last six balls. Kumara kept his cool and delivered for the one-time winners as they have now entered the Super 12. If Namibia lose, the Netherlands will go through. On the other hand, Namibians will aim to get to four points with a victory over UAE. At present, the Netherlands have a negative NRR (-0.162) whereas Namibia's NRR is an impressive +1.277. Hence, it is an easy equation for Namibia. Win and go through.

T20 World Cup: Asian champions Sri Lanka beat Netherlands by 16 runs to enter Super 12 round

Netherlands beat Namibia in a low-scoring thriller during the qualifying round of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition, in Australia, on Tuesday (October 18). After a hard-fought win over UAE in their first game, Netherlands faced a high-spirited Namibia, who beat Sri Lanka in their opening fixture.

Opting to bat first, at the Simonds Stadium, Geelong, the Namibian inning didn't find the any kind of momentum.&nbsp;Courtesy of Jan Frylinck (43) and some contributions from the likes of Michael van Lingen, Stephan Baard, skipper Gerhard&nbsp;Erasmus and David Wiese's 5-ball 11 not out, they managed a paltry score of 121 for 6 in 20 overs. From Netherlands' perspective, Bas de Leede accounted for 2 for 18 whereas Tim Pringle, Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe chipped in with a wicket each.

In reply, Netherlands' top three adapted to the nature of the surface and their vital knocks led their side to a thriling five-wicket win, with three balls to spare. Max ODowd (35), Vikramjit Singh (39) and Bas de Leede's run-a-ball 30 not out ensured their side beat Namibia to move closer to the Super 12 round of the competition in Australia.&nbsp;

While JJ Smit took 2 for 24 and opened the contest, Namibia batters' dismal showing led to their defeat.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/individual-records-have-no-value-in-big-tournaments-gautam-gambhirs-advice-to-virat-kohli-ahead-of-t20-wc-526399">Individual records have no value in big tournaments: Gautam Gambhir's advice to Virat Kohli ahead of T20 WC</a>

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">What they said:

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Bas De Leede | POTM: I think I could take a bit of experience from two days ago. We lost wickets at the end, we had to deal with it. We lost&nbsp;wickets at bad times. We can't afford to do that and we can learn from that as a team. The self belief has always been there and it's nice to win two tight games. Maybe it opens up a bit more freedom for the boys.

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Scott Edwards | Netherlands captain:&nbsp;We're known as a side that plays hard till the last few balls. We did well in terms of front-loading the runs. We knew that Namibia has some good death bowlers in these conditions. It got a bit closer than we'd have liked, but it's still good. It's about now winning that third game of cricket.

<p ng-bind-html="comm[ts].comm" ng-class="get_comm_class(comm[ts]) " ng-hide="comm[ts].geo != null &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.length &gt; 0 &amp;&amp; comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' &amp;&amp; comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Gerhard&nbsp;Erasmus | Namibia skipper:&nbsp;Never nice to be on the losing side when it's so close. We put a good show in the field. With the bat, it seemed difficult for both sides but they ran better than us. There were enough stages in the game where we didn't put enough contact on the bat and didn't move things better.

Netherlands beat Namibia in a low-scoring thriller during the qualifying round of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition, in Australia, on Tuesday (October 18). After a hard-fought win over UAE in their first game, Netherlands faced a high-spirited Namibia, who beat Sri Lanka in their opening fixture.

Netherlands beat Namibia in a low-scoring thriller during the qualifying round of the T20 World Cup 2022 edition, in Australia, on Tuesday (October 18). After a hard-fought win over UAE in their first game, Netherlands faced a high-spirited Namibia, who beat Sri Lanka in their opening fixture. Opting to bat first, at the Simonds Stadium, Geelong, the Namibian inning didn't find the any kind of momentum. Courtesy of Jan Frylinck (43) and some contributions from the likes of Michael van Lingen, Stephan Baard, skipper Gerhard Erasmus and David Wiese's 5-ball 11 not out, they managed a paltry score of 121 for 6 in 20 overs. From Netherlands' perspective, Bas de Leede accounted for 2 for 18 whereas Tim Pringle, Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe chipped in with a wicket each. In reply, Netherlands' top three adapted to the nature of the surface and their vital knocks led their side to a thriling five-wicket win, with three balls to spare. Max ODowd (35), Vikramjit Singh (39) and Bas de Leede's run-a-ball 30 not out ensured their side beat Namibia to move closer to the Super 12 round of the competition in Australia. While JJ Smit took 2 for 24 and opened the contest, Namibia batters' dismal showing led to their defeat. ALSO READ | Individual records have no value in big tournaments: Gautam Gambhir's advice to Virat Kohli ahead of T20 WC What they said: Bas De Leede | POTM: I think I could take a bit of experience from two days ago. We lost wickets at the end, we had to deal with it. We lost wickets at bad times. We can't afford to do that and we can learn from that as a team. The self belief has always been there and it's nice to win two tight games. Maybe it opens up a bit more freedom for the boys. Scott Edwards | Netherlands captain: We're known as a side that plays hard till the last few balls. We did well in terms of front-loading the runs. We knew that Namibia has some good death bowlers in these conditions. It got a bit closer than we'd have liked, but it's still good. It's about now winning that third game of cricket. Gerhard Erasmus | Namibia skipper: Never nice to be on the losing side when it's so close. We put a good show in the field. With the bat, it seemed difficult for both sides but they ran better than us. There were enough stages in the game where we didn't put enough contact on the bat and didn't move things better.

T20 World Cup: Bas de Leede's all-round blitz helps Netherlands beat Namibia in low-scoring thriller

Poland will not play a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Russia next month because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the president of Poland's Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday.

Kulesza said the association was in talks with its Swedish and Czech counterparts regarding playoff matches set for March to fill a slot for the World Cup.

"In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," Kulesza said on Twitter.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-withdraws-russian-airline-aeroflots-sponsorship-amid-ukraine-crisis-456709">Manchester United withdraws Russian airline Aeroflot's sponsorship amid Ukraine crisis</a>

"This is the only right decision. We are in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to FIFA."

Russia is due to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if its team advances, is scheduled to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.

Poland will not play a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Russia next month because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the president of Poland's Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday.

Poland will not play a World Cup qualifying soccer match against Russia next month because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the president of Poland's Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, said on Saturday. Kulesza said the association was in talks with its Swedish and Czech counterparts regarding playoff matches set for March to fill a slot for the World Cup. "In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," Kulesza said on Twitter. ALSO READ: Manchester United withdraws Russian airline Aeroflot's sponsorship amid Ukraine crisis "This is the only right decision. We are in talks with Swedish and Czech association to present a common position to FIFA." Russia is due to host Poland in the semi-finals of its strand of the World Cup playoffs on March 24 and, if its team advances, is scheduled to host either Sweden or the Czech Republic on March 29 in the Path B final.

Poland will not play World Cup qualifying match against Russia, says Polish FA head Cezary Kulesza

Lionel Messi scored a first-half penalty for hosts Argentina before Chile's Alexis Sanchez equalised as their World Cup qualifier ended 1-1 on Thursday.

Messi converted from the spot midway through the first half after Guillermo Maripan brought down Lautaro Martinez in the box. Chile striker Sanchez levelled in the 37th minute, finishing off a cut back from Gary Medel.

Chile keeper Claudio Bravo made a world class save to keep the scores level just before halftime, tipping a Messi free kick round the post.

Messi also saw a free kick come off the woodwork in the second half.

The match in Santiago del Estero was Argentina’s first competitive outing since November and both sides looked rusty.

Argentina pushed forward as the game went on but Chile's rearguard was solid, even without their talismanic holding midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed out after contracting COVID-19.

Messi almost snatched all three points in the last five minutes but his shots could not find a way past Bravo.

The draw means Argentina are unbeaten at home against Chile in 35 matches, and have gone 12 games without defeat since losing to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-finals.

"The positive aspect is that this team always stands up to be counted, tries to attack," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. "They (Chile) practically never created any chances."

Argentina are second in the 10-team South America qualifying group for Qatar 2022 with 11 points from five games, a point behind Brazil, who play Ecuador on Friday.

Chile are sixth, with five points from five games.

The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar while the fifth-placed side goes into an intercontinental play-off.

Colombia got their second win in the qualifiers, a 3-0 victory at last-placed Peru.

Yerry Mina put the visitors ahead five minutes before the break and Peru's task became even harder when Miguel Trauco was sent off for a second yellow card offence on the stroke of halftime.

Mateus Uribe made it 2-0 just four minutes into the second half and Luis DIaz added a third six minutes later.

Colombia moved into sixth while Peru remain the only one of the 10 teams still to record a win.

Earlier in the day, Bolivia beat Venezuela 3-1 at home and Uruguay and Paraguay drew 0-0 in Montevideo.

Lionel Messi scored a first-half penalty for hosts Argentina before Chile's Alexis Sanchez equalised as their World Cup qualifier ended 1-1 on Thursday. Messi converted from the spot midway through the first half after Guillermo Maripan brought down Lautaro Martinez in the box.

Lionel Messi scored a first-half penalty for hosts Argentina before Chile's Alexis Sanchez equalised as their World Cup qualifier ended 1-1 on Thursday. Messi converted from the spot midway through the first half after Guillermo Maripan brought down Lautaro Martinez in the box. Chile striker Sanchez levelled in the 37th minute, finishing off a cut back from Gary Medel. Chile keeper Claudio Bravo made a world class save to keep the scores level just before halftime, tipping a Messi free kick round the post. Messi also saw a free kick come off the woodwork in the second half. The match in Santiago del Estero was Argentina’s first competitive outing since November and both sides looked rusty. Argentina pushed forward as the game went on but Chile's rearguard was solid, even without their talismanic holding midfielder Arturo Vidal, who missed out after contracting COVID-19. Messi almost snatched all three points in the last five minutes but his shots could not find a way past Bravo. The draw means Argentina are unbeaten at home against Chile in 35 matches, and have gone 12 games without defeat since losing to Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-finals. "The positive aspect is that this team always stands up to be counted, tries to attack," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni. "They (Chile) practically never created any chances." Argentina are second in the 10-team South America qualifying group for Qatar 2022 with 11 points from five games, a point behind Brazil, who play Ecuador on Friday. Chile are sixth, with five points from five games. The top four teams qualify automatically for Qatar while the fifth-placed side goes into an intercontinental play-off. Colombia got their second win in the qualifiers, a 3-0 victory at last-placed Peru. Yerry Mina put the visitors ahead five minutes before the break and Peru's task became even harder when Miguel Trauco was sent off for a second yellow card offence on the stroke of halftime. Mateus Uribe made it 2-0 just four minutes into the second half and Luis DIaz added a third six minutes later. Colombia moved into sixth while Peru remain the only one of the 10 teams still to record a win. Earlier in the day, Bolivia beat Venezuela 3-1 at home and Uruguay and Paraguay drew 0-0 in Montevideo.

Football: Messi scores penalty but Argentina held by Chile in 2022 qualifier

Hockey India (HI) on Friday named the 18-member women's squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers.&nbsp;

The Indian team remained unchanged from their Tour of England. Rani Rampal will lead the team in the tournament.&nbsp;

Experienced goalkeepers Savita and Rajani Etimarpu will guard the goal, while drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Namita Toppo, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Neha Goyal, Lilima Minz, Rani Rampal, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur and Sharmila Devi will serve as the outfield players.

"We have retained the 18-member team from our preparatory tour of England. We have a good balance and a mixture of players in the squad. Keeping in mind our objective of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, I feel it is important to stay in the rhythm with the same players who performed well in the preparatory tour. We now focus on making sure that we leave no stone unturned when we take on the USA in the two matches," Indian women's team coach Sjoerd Marijne said.

The winners of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The winners will be determined as follows: Teams will be ranked according to the number of points each has accumulated in both matches (for each match, 3 points are awarded to the winner, one point to each team in the event of a draw and no point to the loser).&nbsp;

If there is equality among the two teams, then the teams will be ranked according to their respective goal difference. If equality remains, a shoot-out competition will be played to establish the winner.&nbsp;

Therefore, the objective of the team will be to secure direct qualification for the Tokyo 2020, which will be staged in Japan's capital city from July 25 to August 7 next year and involve 12 men's and 12 women's teams.&nbsp;

India will take on the USA on November 1 and 2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Hockey India (HI) on Friday named the 18-member women's squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers. The Indian team remained unchanged from their Tour of England.

Hockey India (HI) on Friday named the 18-member women's squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers. The Indian team remained unchanged from their Tour of England. Rani Rampal will lead the team in the tournament. Experienced goalkeepers Savita and Rajani Etimarpu will guard the goal, while drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Reena Khokhar, Salima Tete, Namita Toppo, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Nikki Pradhan, Monika, Neha Goyal, Lilima Minz, Rani Rampal, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur and Sharmila Devi will serve as the outfield players. "We have retained the 18-member team from our preparatory tour of England. We have a good balance and a mixture of players in the squad. Keeping in mind our objective of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, I feel it is important to stay in the rhythm with the same players who performed well in the preparatory tour. We now focus on making sure that we leave no stone unturned when we take on the USA in the two matches," Indian women's team coach Sjoerd Marijne said. The winners of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The winners will be determined as follows: Teams will be ranked according to the number of points each has accumulated in both matches (for each match, 3 points are awarded to the winner, one point to each team in the event of a draw and no point to the loser). If there is equality among the two teams, then the teams will be ranked according to their respective goal difference. If equality remains, a shoot-out competition will be played to establish the winner. Therefore, the objective of the team will be to secure direct qualification for the Tokyo 2020, which will be staged in Japan's capital city from July 25 to August 7 next year and involve 12 men's and 12 women's teams. India will take on the USA on November 1 and 2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

India announces 18-member women's squad for FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, Rani Rampal to lead team

The ICC World Cup Qualifiers has begun in Zimbabwe from the 4th of March. 10 teams will be fighting it out in this tournament to get the opportunity to feature in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 which will have 10 teams this time around instead of the usual 14. The top eight teams have already qualified for the World Cup and two teams from the Qualifiers will now join them.

With teams like West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland battling it out, there is a lot of interest this time in the World Cup Qualifiers. There will be an abundance of talent on display and it will be exciting to see some of them in action during the course of the tournament.&nbsp;

Let&rsquo;s have a look at some of the stars who can make an impact in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers this time.

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) 
This man needs no introduction. Afghanistan&rsquo;s star leg-spinner has single-handedly taken his country storming ahead in the last one year and is progressing superbly well with each game. The 19-year-old will be leading his team in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and Afghanistan would be banking on this charismatic champion to bail them through. Rashid had recently leaped up the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men&#39;s ODI Bowling Rankings after securing 86 wickets in 37 matches at an outstandingly low average of 13.26. His sharp turn and accuracy are sure to trouble several batsmen in the tournament.

Rovman Powell (West Indies) 
While his numbers might not be breathtaking, Rovman Powell of the West Indies does have some great talent. The 24-year-old all-rounder has a lot to offer and in the absence of their star player, Andre Russell, the onus will be on Powell to make this opportunity count. Powell has a strong bottom hand and a good hand-eye coordination and his explosive batting in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have won him a lot of fans. He is also a decent medium pacer and can bowl some valuable overs in the middle. The World Cup Qualifiers are a tricky proposition for the West Indies but Rovman Powell&rsquo;s all-rounding skills can come in real handy for them.

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) 
Zimbabwe cricket has had to go through a lot of topsy-turvy times recently. But even in all their gloom, they found a bright ray of sunshine in the batting of Sikandar Raza. The exceptionally gifted batsman has played many a vital knock for his country in recent times and Zimbabwe will continue to look up to Raza to help them in this tournament. Raza&#39;s match-winning 92 from 74 balls against Afghanistan recently showed that he is in good form and the 24-year-old would be keen to exhibit his best in this vital tournament. One thing that might also favour Raza is that he would be playing at home, where he has struck 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries.

Paul Stirling (Ireland) 
He has been one of Ireland cricket&rsquo;s stalwarts over the years and will continue to remain their primary force in the World Cup Qualifiers. In fact, for Ireland to make it to the finals of the event, Paul Stirling, who has 3000-plus ODI runs in his kitty along with 6 centuries, would have to take the lead role. Stirling is an aggressive batsman and enjoys smiting the ball down the ground and loves to play the pull and the hook shots. He can produce a range of strokes and when inflow can be hard to stop. Stirling has been in good form of late and will be hoping to carry that form over in the tournament for the benefit of his team.

Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal) 
Even though he has not played an international game yet, Nepal&rsquo;s Sandeep Lamichhanehas become quite a sensation in his country. In the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions in January, Lamichhanehas became the first cricketer from Nepal to bag a contract from the league. The 17-year-old leg-spinner is tremendously talented and had first made news after taking a hat-trick in the 2016 U-19 World Cup. Lamichhanehas gets a good turn and has great control and accuracy to trouble batsmen. He has been in good form and was instrumental in Nepal&rsquo;s entry to the Qualifiers after taking a sensational 5-20 against Kenya earlier this month. The surfaces in Zimbabwe should aid him and it would be interesting to see how this gifted youngster operates in the tournament.

The stakes are quite high this time in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. The next few weeks are bound to be full of high-octane action and a lot of thrill. It will be quite exciting to see these players in action and to see what kind of impact they eventually leave by the end of the tournament. Interesting days, thus, lie ahead for cricket fans.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

It will be quite exciting to see these players in action and to see what kind of impact they eventually leave by the end of the tournament.

The ICC World Cup Qualifiers has begun in Zimbabwe from the 4th of March. 10 teams will be fighting it out in this tournament to get the opportunity to feature in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 which will have 10 teams this time around instead of the usual 14. The top eight teams have already qualified for the World Cup and two teams from the Qualifiers will now join them. With teams like West Indies, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland battling it out, there is a lot of interest this time in the World Cup Qualifiers. There will be an abundance of talent on display and it will be exciting to see some of them in action during the course of the tournament. Let’s have a look at some of the stars who can make an impact in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers this time. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) This man needs no introduction. Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner has single-handedly taken his country storming ahead in the last one year and is progressing superbly well with each game. The 19-year-old will be leading his team in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers and Afghanistan would be banking on this charismatic champion to bail them through. Rashid had recently leaped up the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Men's ODI Bowling Rankings after securing 86 wickets in 37 matches at an outstandingly low average of 13.26. His sharp turn and accuracy are sure to trouble several batsmen in the tournament. Rovman Powell (West Indies) While his numbers might not be breathtaking, Rovman Powell of the West Indies does have some great talent. The 24-year-old all-rounder has a lot to offer and in the absence of their star player, Andre Russell, the onus will be on Powell to make this opportunity count. Powell has a strong bottom hand and a good hand-eye coordination and his explosive batting in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have won him a lot of fans. He is also a decent medium pacer and can bowl some valuable overs in the middle. The World Cup Qualifiers are a tricky proposition for the West Indies but Rovman Powell’s all-rounding skills can come in real handy for them. Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe cricket has had to go through a lot of topsy-turvy times recently. But even in all their gloom, they found a bright ray of sunshine in the batting of Sikandar Raza. The exceptionally gifted batsman has played many a vital knock for his country in recent times and Zimbabwe will continue to look up to Raza to help them in this tournament. Raza's match-winning 92 from 74 balls against Afghanistan recently showed that he is in good form and the 24-year-old would be keen to exhibit his best in this vital tournament. One thing that might also favour Raza is that he would be playing at home, where he has struck 2 centuries and 6 half-centuries. Paul Stirling (Ireland) He has been one of Ireland cricket’s stalwarts over the years and will continue to remain their primary force in the World Cup Qualifiers. In fact, for Ireland to make it to the finals of the event, Paul Stirling, who has 3000-plus ODI runs in his kitty along with 6 centuries, would have to take the lead role. Stirling is an aggressive batsman and enjoys smiting the ball down the ground and loves to play the pull and the hook shots. He can produce a range of strokes and when inflow can be hard to stop. Stirling has been in good form of late and will be hoping to carry that form over in the tournament for the benefit of his team. Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal) Even though he has not played an international game yet, Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhanehas become quite a sensation in his country. In the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions in January, Lamichhanehas became the first cricketer from Nepal to bag a contract from the league. The 17-year-old leg-spinner is tremendously talented and had first made news after taking a hat-trick in the 2016 U-19 World Cup. Lamichhanehas gets a good turn and has great control and accuracy to trouble batsmen. He has been in good form and was instrumental in Nepal’s entry to the Qualifiers after taking a sensational 5-20 against Kenya earlier this month. The surfaces in Zimbabwe should aid him and it would be interesting to see how this gifted youngster operates in the tournament. The stakes are quite high this time in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. The next few weeks are bound to be full of high-octane action and a lot of thrill. It will be quite exciting to see these players in action and to see what kind of impact they eventually leave by the end of the tournament. Interesting days, thus, lie ahead for cricket fans. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: These cricket stars will sparkle at ICC World Cup Qualifiers

The Afghan National cricket team captain Asghar Stanikzai has been hospitalized in Zimbabwe for appendicitis which means he will miss the 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) citing the doctors have reported that Stanikzai will undergo a surgery today.

The 30-year-old middle order batsman will miss the warm-up games this week as well as the tournament opener against Scotland on March 4 although officials expect him to be fit to face hosts Zimbabwe two days later.

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BREAKING: Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai has been ruled out of the start of their <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketworldcup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cricketworldcup</a> qualifier campaign, requiring surgery for appendicitis <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWCQ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CWCQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/SnRe9y5Fu8">https://t.co/SnRe9y5Fu8</a> <a href="https://t.co/FQBIoChNxI">pic.twitter.com/FQBIoChNxI</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/968085361346928640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Stanikzai has played 83 one-day internationals and made 1,565 runs.

Afghanistan is in Group B of the qualifying tournament which is being staged in Zimbabwe and will face the home country, Nepal, Hong Kong and Scotland in the first round.

The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the second stage with the best two countries at the end of the event booking their places at the 2019 World Cup being held in England and Wales.

&nbsp;

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Stanikzai was ruled out of the start of the tournament after undergoing surgery to have his appendix removed, the International Cricket Council announced

The Afghan National cricket team captain Asghar Stanikzai has been hospitalized in Zimbabwe for appendicitis which means he will miss the 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) citing the doctors have reported that Stanikzai will undergo a surgery today. The 30-year-old middle order batsman will miss the warm-up games this week as well as the tournament opener against Scotland on March 4 although officials expect him to be fit to face hosts Zimbabwe two days later. BREAKING: Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai has been ruled out of the start of their @cricketworldcup qualifier campaign, requiring surgery for appendicitis #CWCQ https://t.co/SnRe9y5Fu8 pic.twitter.com/FQBIoChNxI — ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2018 × Stanikzai has played 83 one-day internationals and made 1,565 runs. Afghanistan is in Group B of the qualifying tournament which is being staged in Zimbabwe and will face the home country, Nepal, Hong Kong and Scotland in the first round. The top three teams from the two groups will qualify for the second stage with the best two countries at the end of the event booking their places at the 2019 World Cup being held in England and Wales.

Afghan skipper Asghar Stanikzai to miss start of World Cup qualifiers

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