Friday 25 December 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank formally established: China

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BEIJING (AFP) - The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), viewed by some as a rival to the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, was formally established on Friday, according to a statement issued by Beijing.The United States and Japan -- the worlds largest and third-largest economies, respectively -- have notably declined to join the bank, which is expected to begin operations early next year, though others such as Australia, Germany and Britain will take part.It will be operational once its board of directors and executive council have met for the first time at an opening ceremony scheduled for January 16-18, the ministry of finance said in a statement on its official website.Beijing will be by far the largest AIIB shareholder at about 30 percent, according to the legal framework signed by 50 founding member countries in late June.The bank is headquartered in Beijing and currently has 57 members.With authorised capital of $100 billion, it expects to offer its first batch of project loans by mid-2016, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Regime air strike kills Syria rebel chief ahead of peace talks

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Powerful Syrian rebel chief Zahran Alloush was killed in a regime air strike east of Damascus on Friday, dealing blows to both the nearly five-year uprising and a fragile peace process. Alloush, 44, was the commander of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) movement, the predominant opposition faction in the Eastern Ghouta rebel bastion east of Damascus.He and five other commanders were killed in an air strike that targeted one of their meetings in Eastern Ghouta on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.A senior member of Jaish al-Islam confirmed Alloushs death to AFP, saying three planes targeted a secret meeting of commanders.The Syrian government and its media regularly refers to Jaish al-Islam as terrorists, and state television did so again in the news alert announcing Alloushs death.In a statement carried by state television, Syrias army command said it had conducted the special operation that killed Alloush as part of its national mission.A Syrian security source told AFP dozens of rebel fighters were killed in the raids, carried out by Syrias air force with newly-provided Russian missiles.The jets launched two rounds of strikes on the meeting with four missiles each, the source said. At least 12 Jaish al-Islam members and seven from the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham group were killed.Jaish al-Islam is the most prominent rebel faction in the Eastern Ghouta region, an opposition bastion east of the capital frequently bombarded by regime forces.Backed by Riyadh, it recently took part in landmark opposition talks in Saudi Arabia.It was known to have extremist views and to have supported the establishment of an Islamic state before recently moving towards a more moderate position.Zahran Alloush was born in 1971 in Douma, one of the largest towns in Eastern Ghouta. His father was a prominent Salafist preacher who now resides in Riyadh. Following in his fathers footsteps, Alloush pursued religious studies in both Syria and Saudi Arabia. Alloush was arrested in 2009 and was released in June 2011 in a general amnesty, just three months after Syrias uprising against President Bashar al-Assad erupted. He took up arms, and in 2013 united a number of rebel groups under the banner of Jaish al-Islam. With close-cropped hair and a dark beard, Alloush was typically dressed in military-style fatigues. Jaish al-Islam rose to prominence in Eastern Ghouta and has remained firmly opposed to both Assad and to the Islamic State jihadist group. But the group has also generated severe criticism by human rights groups for rights abuses. In July, they drew condemnation for executing 18 alleged members of the Islamic State group in a video mimicking ISs own gruesome productions. And in November, Jaish al-Islam used dozens of captives in metal cages as human shields in an attempt to prevent regime bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, according to the Observatory.The news of the air strikes killing Alloush spread like wildfire among activists and rebel groups online. May God accept Commander Zahran Alloush among the martyrs... and may the factions of Ghouta join forces to bridge the gaps and complete the mission, wrote Khaled Khoja, head of the opposition National Coalition, on Twitter.Analysts expect Alloushs death to have profound ripple effects on Syrias fragmented rebel movement as well as budding peace talks.His death stands as one of the most significant opposition losses of Syrias nearly five-year uprising, analyst Charles Lister said on Twitter.In a way, Zahran Alloush has been the rare successful centraliser in the Syrian rebel movement, said Aron Lund, editor of the Carnegie Endowments Syria in Crisis website.But with Alloush gone, that cohesion could unravel, Lund added.His absence could also affect a fragile peace process aimed at negotiating a political solution to Syrias war, in which more than 250,000 people have died.Jaish al-Islam was one of the leading rebel groups invited to talks in Riyadh earlier this month in a bid to hash out a common platform.It agreed to future negotiations with Syrias regime, a controversial move that drew condemnation from hardline and jihadist groups like Al-Qaedas Syria affiliate.Those negotiations needed hardliners like Zahran Alloush to be involved for their credibility, Lund said.But Alloushs death could affect the peace process, both by destabilising Jaish al-Islam and by weakening it, he added.

Two dead as hundreds of migrants try to enter Spanish territory

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MADRID (AFP) - Two migrants drowned and 12 others were injured Friday when they tried to enter into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa by swimming from Morocco or scaling a barbed-wire fence, officials in both nations said.Just before 4:00 am (0300 GMT) a group of over 300 migrants tried to get into the Spanish city which borders Morocco and is located across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain, the Spanish government authority in Ceuta said in a statement.Moroccan forces intercepted over 120 migrants but 182 others managed to get into Ceuta by climbing over the fence or swimming into the territory, it said.Three of them needed to be reanimated by Spanish police officers who rescued them from the sea.Twelve migrants were taken to hospital by the Red Cross to be treated for various injuries, it added.Two people were recovering from near-drowning, one had an open leg fracture and the rest had deep cuts, some requiring stitches, the Red Cross said.Morocco recovered two bodies in the waters near the border post, local officials told Moroccan state news service MAP.The would-be migrants threw stones and used sticks against police, injuring several officers, they added.The Spanish Red Cross said it gave clothes and shoes to the migrants before they were taken to a temporary detention centre in Ceuta. It published photos of Red Cross volunteers helping and feeding migrants, many of them covered in blankets.Ceuta along with Melilla to the east are two Spanish territories on the northern coast of Morocco that together form the European Unions only land borders with Africa.Spain fortified fences in the two territories last year in response to a rise in the number of migrants trying to jump over the barriers from neighbouring Morocco.Last year 15 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean after dozens tried to enter Ceuta by swimming from a nearby beach.Human rights groups and migrants said the Spanish police tried to keep them from crossing into Spanish territory by firing rubber bullets and spraying them with tear gas.Madrid has since said that its guards are now banned from using rubber bullets to repel migrants.

Bus crash kills at least 24 in northern Afghanistan

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MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFP) - At least 24 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine after a head-on collision with a truck in northern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, in the latest deadly road accident.Women and children were among those killed in the accident Thursday on a major highway in Samangan province.The crash happened when the bus carrying more than 50 passengers was travelling from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif, said Sarajuddin Fitrat, the governor of Hazrat Sultan district where the accident occurred.Twenty four people were killed and 17 others were injured.The defence ministry in Kabul gave a much higher death toll of 43. The injured were rushed to hospital while police and a rescue team retrieved the bodies.Afghanistan has some of the worlds most dangerous roads and deadly accidents are common.At least 18 people were killed in May when a minivan overturned in the western province of Badghis.And in April 2013 a bus hit a wrecked fuel tanker in the southern province of Kandahar, killing 45 people.The World Bank in November signed off a $250 million grant to upgrade roads crossing Afghanistans Hindu Kush mountains, crucial trade links that are often closed in winter by snow.

Football: Figueredo bribes paid 'for decades' - prosecutor

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MONTEVIDEO (AFP) - Former FIFA vice-president Eugenio Figueredo received millions of dollars in bribes throughout his career at the top of South American football, prosecutors claimed Friday.Figueredo, 83, was extradited from Switzerland and spent Christmas in jail pending a trial which could see him imprisoned for up to 15 years.Late Friday, he was admitted to a Montevideo hospital with chest pain, but was expected to return to his cell in a matter of hours, said the prosecutor in his case, Juan Gomez.Gomez said evidence given by Figueredo showed clearly that the official was corrupted from the moment he joined the executive committee of CONMEBOL, the South American federation.

Tennis: Djokovic, Federer in race to be first $100m man

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PARIS (AFP) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are poised to become the first $100 million men in tennis in 2016, in a gripping sub-plot to the new Grand Slam season.No player in the history of the sport has broken through the $100 million on-court earnings barrier but world number one Djokovic and Federer, the number three, should reach the landmark next year.Djokovic, 28, has just over $94 million in prize money while Federer, six years the Serbs senior, has banked $97.3 million.With $3.85 million on offer for the winner of Januarys Australian Open, the seasons first major, the veteran Swiss would be the first man to the magical number even if the odds are heavily stacked against a player who won the last of his 17 Grand Slam titles in 2012.The staggering rewards for the modern player, all boosted by lucrative off-court earnings through sponsorship and endorsements, are a far cry from the heavyweights of the sport who starred in earlier eras.Rod Laver, the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam -- something that eluded Djokovic courtesy of a French Open final loss in 2015 -- ended his playing career with $1.5 million, still a huge sum by the standards of the late 1960s.John McEnroe earned $12.5 million while Federers hero, Pete Sampras banked $43 million before he retired in 2002.Djokovic earned a season record $21.5 million in 2015, a year which saw him win three of the four majors -- taking his total to 10 in total.My season was the best of my career with many highlights. It inspires me even more to keep on going, and I hope to continue to play at this level in 2016, said Djokovic.Despite his dominance of the sport, Djokovic still has some catching up to do when it comes to matching Federers overall personal fortune.According to Forbes rich list, Federer was the fifth highest-earning sportsman in 2015 thanks to $58 million in endorsements.Djokovic was 13th, his on-court wealth boosted by $31 million worth of commercial riches.But the Serb knows time -- and the form which saw him win 82 matches and suffer just six losses last season -- is on his side.I think I have a good chance. Im 28 and I still dont feel like the end is anytime soon, that definitely excites me and motivates me to keep going.The staggering wealth in the mens game dwarfs the womens tour.Serena Williamss on-court earnings stood at just over $74 million after a 2015 season which saw the American also claim three of the the four Grand Slam titles.Rival Maria Sharapova, the worlds richest sportswoman due to her lucrative off-court portfolio, has earned less than half than Williams -- $36.4 million.Back in the mens game, 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal has banked $75 million on court while current world number two Andy Murray has earned $42.5 million.

Football: Van Gaal on the Boxing Day hopes

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LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is at risk of a knockout punch as his side visit Stoke City in the weightiest fixture of the Premier Leagues jam-packed Saturday programme.The 64-year-old Dutchman is reportedly one or two bad results away from the sack after a run of six winless games that has seen his team drop to fifth place in the Premier League and exit the Champions League.Amid intense speculation that he is on the brink of being replaced by Jose Mourinho, Van Gaal stormed out of his pre-game press conference after just five minutes, wishing stunned reporters an ironic merry Christmas.In a subsequent interview with MUTV, he acknowledged that the trip to Stoke was a must-win game.When you have lost three times in a row, then you need a victory. We have focused ourselves to do that, but it is not easy, he said.Stoke City have won against Manchester City, for example, and its a special ground. It is not easy with a lot of circumstances that are not suitable always to playing good football.Stokes draughty Britannia Stadium is a forbidding place at the best of times and it has proved particularly hostile of late, with Chelsea and Manchester City among the visiting teams to have succumbed to Mark Hughess side.Hughes, a former United striker, expects Van Gaal to turn the situation around, but is unsentimental about the prospect of adding to the Dutchmans woes.They have got good players, they have got a good squad, said the Welshman, whose side have won only one of their last four league games.Publicly, at least, Van Gaal retains the support of his players as he attempts to lift a side who have fallen nine points behind leaders Leicester ahead of the Boxing Day programme.Its not nice when youre getting criticised after every game, said captain and star striker Wayne Rooney.Its tough for the players to deal with. We get hurt because were proud people and proud to play for Manchester United. When its not going right, its hard to take and frustrating.Mourinhos sacking by Chelsea highlighted the dangers of managing in the English top flight and it is with interim manager Guus Hiddink in the dug-out that the champions will tackle high-flying Watford.Reprising a role he previously performed in 2009 after the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari, Hiddink has appealed to the personal pride of his players as he seeks to lift the London club from their lowly position of 15th place.- Likeable Leicester -======================They must have a heart full of the desire of an amateur, Hiddink said.If they dont have that desire then I will say: Thank you very much. I dont need players who dont have the desire.Hiddink watched from the stands last weekend as Chelsea turned in a vastly improved performance in a 3-1 win over Sunderland, but Watford, seventh in the table and chasing a fifth straight win, will be a different prospect.Watfords recent success echoes that of Leicester, who continue to defy expectations ahead of their trip to Liverpool on Saturday.Bottom of the table a year ago, Leicester have electrified English football this season and manager Claudio Ranieri is revelling in his teams new status as the neutrals darling.Ranieri believes that their stamina will serve them well after comparing them to movie hero Forrest Gump following their dramatic great escape last season.I am very confident because if Leicester last season saved themselves in the last two months, that means the stamina is fantastic, said Ranieri, whose side have lost just once in 17 games this season.Why cant we continue to run, run, run? We are like Forrest Gump -- Leicester is Forrest Gump.Having established themselves as Leicesters number one challengers with an impressive 2-1 win at home to third-place Manchester City on Monday, Arsenal travel to mid-table Southampton.Southampton are without a win in six games, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned his team that the victory over City will soon be forgotten if they allow their level to drop at St Marys.The confidence is very high, he said. Confidence is built up very slowly and goes very quickly, so lets take care of our next performance.City, six points below Leicester, hope to have captain Vincent Kompany available after a calf injury when they host second-bottom Sunderland.

Football: England need Rooney to fire - Hodgson

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LONDON (AFP) - England manager Roy Hodgson paid tribute to Wayne Rooney on Friday after a landmark year but said the striker must keep performing well for both club and country ahead of Euro 2016.Rooney, 30, became Englands record goalscorer when he converted a penalty against Switzerland in September to surpass Bobby Charltons long-standing mark of 49.Hodgson, who oversaw a perfect European Championship qualifying campaign with 10 wins from 10, praised the manner in which Rooney handled the pressure and increased media interest associated with the record.I think he handled that quite brilliantly, Hodgson told Sky Sports News HQ. I think he handled the press comments around it before breaking the record very well. Of course it was that penalty that did it. That was an important penalty and I thought it showed how dedicated he is to his profession.However, the England captain has experienced contrasting fortunes with Manchester United, netting just twice in 13 Premier League games as the Red Devils have dropped out the top four in addition to suffering an early Champions League exit.Hodgson believes Rooney has embraced his leadership role within the England set-up, providing a good example for the younger players, but the Three Lions boss stressed the striker needs to produce on the pitch as well.The most important thing for him as far as Im concerned is that hes got to keep playing well for Manchester United, playing well for England when we have our games together and that he still leads by example on the field, Hodgson added.It doesnt matter how much good work he can do for us off the field in terms of being some sort of a mentor for the younger players. We really need him being Wayne Rooney on the field scoring goals, making goals and with his drive and commitment leading us forward.

NBA: Retiring Bryant tops early All-Star balloting

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, retiring after this season to end a 20-year career, is the runaway vote leader for the 65th NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Friday.Bryant, a 17-time All-Star, has received 719,235 votes with reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors next at 510,202 and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers topping the Eastern Conference with 357,937 votes.Global fan voting determines the starters for the annual contest of NBA elite stars, which this season is set for February 14 in Toronto.Bryant is the leading scorer in NBA All-Star Game history with 280 points and he ranks second in All-Star appearances behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbars 19.NBA scoring leader Curry averages 31.2 points a game for the defending NBA champion Warriors, who have the leagues top record at 27-1. Joining him in the Western Conference backcourt based on current voting is 2015 NBA All-Star Game MVP Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder with 267,699 with Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers a distant third with 146,335.In voting for three spots in the West front-court starting lineup, Bryant sets the pace followed by Oklahoma Citys Kevin Durant on 349,473 and the Clippers Blake Griffin on 182,107 with Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs in fourth on 164,521.Leading for spots in the Easts front court are James, the Indiana Pacers Paul George on 283,785 and Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons on 148,278 lead the East front-court with New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony just outside a starting spot on 132,119.The Miami Heats Dwyane Wade has 300,595 votes to lead East guards followed by Clevelands Kyrie Irving, who has 138,191 despite just coming back from an injury suffered in last seasons NBA Finals. Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors was third on 128,131.Voting concludes on January 18 and the starting lineups will be announced January 21.

Chilas: Land sliding blocks Karakoram Highway

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CHILAS (Dunya News) – A massive 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Pakistan of early Saturday morning also caused a land sliding in Tatta Pani area due to which Karakoram Highway was blocked.The National Disaster Management Authoritys spokesperson said that no loss of life was reported due to land sliding in Tatta Pani. However, Skardu was cut off from rest of the county due to land sliding.Karakoram Highway has been closed for all kind of traffic as hundreds of vehicles were stranded due to land sliding in the area.

Lahore: 14-year-old girl gang-raped

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LAHORE: A 14-year-old girl was gang raped at a rest house at The Mall in Lahore on Friday. The victim was kidnapped from Multan Chungi area of the city by six to seven persons.The victim has been shifted to Services Hospital in critical condition. Police sources have said that initial medical report of the victim has confirmed the rape. Police have arrested at least 10 persons on suspicion. It is pertinent to mention here that three police officials are among the arrested persons.

Windies win toss and bowl in second Test against Australia

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - The West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl in the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.Australia left out Shaun Marsh for the return of fit-again Usman Khawaja, while uncapped paceman Scott Boland was released from the squad.Khawaja has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since scoring 174 and 121 in the first two Tests against New Zealand last month and proved his fitness with an explosive 109 off 70 balls in the Big Bash League Twenty20 series last weekend.It will otherwise be an unchanged side for the showpiece Boxing Day Test with Australia favoured to retain the Frank Worrell trophy against the struggling tourists.That looks on the cards after the Windies were thrashed by an innings and 212 runs inside three days in the first Test in Hobart. They last won a Test in Australia almost 18 years ago.The Windies gave bowling allrounder Carlos Brathwaite his Test debut, following a tour-ending ankle injury suffered by paceman Shannon Gabriel in Hobart, in the only team change.Teams:Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon.West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jermaine Blackwood, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder (capt), Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Carlos Brathwaite, Jomel Warrican. Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Chris Gaffaney (NZL).TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG).Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).

British astronaut dials wrong number on Xmas call from space

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LONDON (Agencies) - Tim Peake, the first British astronaut on the International Space Station, dialled a wrong number after trying to phone home for Christmas, asking a woman Is this planet Earth?British astronaut Tim Peake has apologized after dialing a wrong number from the International Space Station and saying Hello, is this planet Earth? to the woman who answered.Peake quickly took to Twitter late Thursday to insist that the incident was not a prank call, just a wrong number and that he was trying to connect to his home.According to Britains Daily Telegraph newspaper, it is not the spacemans first phone flub. On Monday, he tried to ring his parents to wish them a Merry Christmas but had to leave a message because they had popped out from their home in southern England.Peake also is somewhat of a serial tweeter. He tweeted an illustration created by Lupus Films of the astronaut with The Snowman and The Snowdog.And on Christmas Eve he tweeted a photo of the sun peeking from behind the Earth.According to the Telegraph, Peake, 43, of Chichester in southern England, is conducting a series of experiments on himself to help scientists understand the toll of spaceflight on the human body, which is hoped will aid in future missions to Mars. He blasted off to the space station on Dec. 15 with an American and a Russian. He is the first Briton to visit the station.

Rain delays start of Australia-Windies second Test

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Rain delayed the start of the second Test between Australia and the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.West Indies have won the toss, and have chosen to bowl first. Carlos Brathwaite will make his debut for them, in place of the injured Shannon Gabriel. Thats the only change West Indies have made. For Australia, Usman Khawaja is back in place of Shaun Marsh.Showers are expected to clear so play can begin at some point on the first day in what is regarded as the showpiece day in the Australian cricket calendar.Australia hold a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, having thrashed the Caribbean tourists by an innings and 212 runs in Hobart.Teams:Australia: JA Burns, DA Warner, UT Khawaja, SPD Smith (Captain), AC Voges, MR Marsh, PM Nevill, JL Pattinson, PM Siddle, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon.West Indies: KC Brathwaite, R Chandrika, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, J Blackwood, D Ramdin, JO Holder (Captain), CR Brathwaite, KAJ Roach, JE Taylor, JA Warrican.

Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe in low-scoring ODI

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SHARJAH (AFP) - Afghanistan bowled out Zimbabwe for a paltry 82 to win the first one-day international by 49 runs on Friday.Afghanistan had been dismissed for just 131 with more than 10 overs to spare in the first game of the five-match series with opener Noor Ali Zadran top scoring with 63.Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer claimed 5-20.But Zimbabwe then lost their last seven wickets for just 35 runs to be bowled out in the 31st over.Afghanistan off-spinner Amir Hamza was the pick of the bowlers with 4-17 having been handed the new ball.The captain told me to bowl wicket to wicket and if an opportunity is there, dont miss out, man of the match Hamza told cricinfo.com.We have been here for a week, we have trained. We have a strong domestic structure which gets better day by day.Only three Zimbabwe batsmen reached double figures with captain Elton Chigumbura top-scoring on 28.Fridays win followed Afghanistans 3-2 win in the ODI series in Zimbabwe in October. It was the first time that a non-Test playing team had beaten a Test nation in a ODI series.I thought we started well, at one stage we thought they would score 270, said Chigumbura.Its about how you play the spinners. If you play them well you are bound to win the game.The second game of the series takes place at the same venue on Tuesday.Brief scores: Afghanistan 131 all out in 38.5 overs (Noor Ali Zadran 63; Graeme Cremer 5-20) v Zimbabwe 82 all out in 30.5 overs (Amir Hamza 4-17).
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