Afghanistan cricket team spinner Allah Ghazanfar scripted history with a brilliant six-wicket haul to guide his side to a convincing 92-run victory over Bangladesh in the first ODI encounter in Sharjah.
Source: NDTV
Afghanistan cricket team spinner Allah Ghazanfar made history with a remarkable six-wicket haul, steering his team to a resounding 92-run victory over Bangladesh in the first ODI held in Sharjah on Wednesday. At just 18 years old, Ghazanfar delivered an impressive performance, taking 6 wickets for 26 runs in 6.3 overs, causing a dramatic collapse for Bangladesh, who went from 132/3 to 143 all out while chasing a target of 236 runs. These figures set a new record for the best bowling performance in an Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODI, surpassing Shakib Al Hasan’s previous record of 5-29 from 2019.
Starting his journey as a fast bowler, Ghazanfar transformed into a mystery spinner under the guidance of former Afghanistan captain Dawlat Ahmadzai. He gained attention during the 2024 U-19 World Cup, where he took eight wickets in four matches, earning him a call-up to the senior team and leading to his ODI debut against Ireland. His talent shone through once again in the Emerging Asia Cup final, where he won the Player of the Match award as Afghanistan claimed victory over Sri Lanka A.
Though part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad in their IPL 2024 title win, Ghazanfar did not play in any matches, having joined as a replacement for Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Nevertheless, his potential has Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi confident in the young spinner’s future. “He is a special talent and has a good future for Afghanistan. He bowled well in the first spell, but he bowled that no-ball and I asked him why did he bowl a no-ball (laughs). I am very happy with the options we have on the bench,” Shahidi commented.
Reflecting on Bangladesh’s loss, Najmul Hossain, a set batsman at the time of his dismissal, acknowledged that his wicket was pivotal. “I think my wicket turned the match,” Najmul admitted. “I was the set batsman, so when I got out, we needed to bat longer. But credit to Afghanistan’s spinners for the way they bowled.”
Follow us for more insights
