National Team will Play in April's ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers

BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 1 (ICC Media Release)

The national cricket team, along with Uganda, achieved a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier after recording victories in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Skipper Narooz Mangal inspired a brilliant win by 82 runs over Cayman Islands to hand the team the Division 3 title, following on from its successive title wins in Jersey in Division 5 and Tanzania in Division 4.

Mr. Mangal was proud of his side and believes that it is capable of finishing in the top four at the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

“Today is a very happy day for me as we have won the Division 3 tournament and have qualified for the World Cup Qualifier. It is a very big day in the history of Afganistan cricket,” said Narooz.

“It will be very hard work in South Africa and we will be playing against some very difficult teams but we are all very happy.

“It was very special to get the Man of the Match Award as my innings was very important for my team but all the team played well.

“I think if we all work very hard in the next few months we have a very good chance of making it to the Cricket World Cup in 2011.”

A 69-run partnership for the third wicket between Shafiqullah Shafaq (39) and Mr. Mangal changed the balance of the game, as Afghanistan took advantage of some extremely poor fielding from the Cayman Islands.

The defeat means the Cayman Islands join Argentina in being relegated to the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4, which will be played in 2010.

Afghanistan was joined in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier by Uganda who achieved an outstanding victory over Argentina.

The fixtures for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in South Africa between 1-19 April will be released shortly. The top four sides at that event qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, while a top six place will secure ODI status for the next 4 years.