Hindukush Strikers Win the Etisalat List A Tournament 2024

The Rahmat Shah-led Hindukush Strikers beat the Mahipar Stars by 5 wickets in the Grand Finale to win the 7th edition of the Etisalat List A Tournament 2024.

The event started on July 10 in Kunduz province which saw four teams competing in a double round-robin format followed by the final between the top two teams that was held today in Kunduz Cricket Ground in Kunduz Province. 

Earlier in the morning, Rahmat Shah won the toss and decided that the Hindukush Strikers would bowl first in the final. After being sent into bat, the Mahipar Stars have posted 307/7 runs on the board with major contributions coming in from Bilal Ahmad (136) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (66). Faridoon Dawoodzai (2/59) picked up two wickets whereas Nangyal Kharoti (1/50), Khalil Gurbaz (1/50), Shams Ur Rahman (1/66), and Mohammad Gul Alikhil (1/70) picked up one wicket each.

The Hindukush Strikers then put on an incredible batting performance and banking on Zubaid Akbari’s match-winning hundred (134) and a fighting half-century from the skipper Rahmat Shah (66), managed to chase down the target successfully and win the game by 5 wickets and clinch the title of the 7th edition of the Etisalat List A Cup 2024. 

Zubaid Akbari (132 off 133 balls 14x4s and 3x6s), who scored an incredible hundred in the 2nd inning, was awarded the player of the match. Mahipar Stars' young middle order batter Bilal Ahmad, who scored 274 runs for his team during the event, was awarded as the Emerging Player of the Tournament.

Naveed Zadran picked 13 wickets and was recognized as the best bowler of the Etisalat List A Tournament 2023. In addition, Hindukush Strikers skipper Rahmat Shah was adjudged as the best batter of the tournament for scoring 395 runs at 65.83 runs in the event with 4 half-centuries and a hundred to his name. 

Mawiand Champions Vice Captain Sharafuddin Ashraf scored 182 runs and picked 9 wickets in the event, and was awarded as the best all-rounder of the tournament. 

The Etisalat List-A Tournament 2024 was one of the major domestic events of the domestic calendar 2024, which will be followed by the 9th edition of the Shpageeza Cricket League, the Green Afghanistan One Day Cup, and the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament 2024.