In a thrilling semi-final clash, Afghanistan A defeated India A by 20 runs to advance to the final of the ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024, held at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, Afghanistan A's strong opening partnership between Zubaid Akbari and Sediqullah Atal laid a formidable foundation, leading to a total of 206/4—the highest score in the tournament's current edition.
The Afghan side started aggressively, with Akbari scoring 64 and Atal contributing a powerful 83, combining for a 137-run opening stand. Their partnership set the stage for a late flourish by Karim Janat, who struck 41 off just 20 balls, propelling Afghanistan to a daunting target.
India A struggled early in their response, losing openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh, followed by captain Tilak Varma, all within the powerplay. Despite a resilient knock of 64 by Ramandeep Singh, who attempted to anchor the chase, India A ultimately fell short of the target.
Afghanistan A's win secured them a place in the final of the Emerging Asia Cup, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final. For India A, the loss marked an unexpected exit from the tournament despite a promising campaign.
This hard-fought win exemplifies Afghanistan A’s growing strength and skill on the T20 circuit as they aim to secure their first ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title.
The match, however, was marked by a significant moment of contention during the first innings. Akbari was initially declared not out after edging a delivery from India’s Aaqib Khan, resulting in a sharp one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh.
Although the Indian team immediately voiced their dissent, the absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) left them with no formal means to challenge the decision.
As protests grew, umpires conferred and referred the decision to the third umpire. Following further discussion, it was determined that Akbari had nicked the ball, overturning the initial call.
The revised decision puzzled Akbari and the Afghanistan team, who questioned the review’s validity given the lack of DRS. Emotions ran high on both sides, and the match referee intervened to de-escalate tensions.
After further deliberation, Akbari conceded and departed, but the delay had already added to the match's intensity.
