Afsar Khan Zazai (Pashto: افسر ځاځی; born 10 August 1993) is an Afghan cricketer. Afsar is a right-handed wicket-keeper batsman who is known for his batting skills. He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Afghanistan's first Test match, against India, in June 2018. He was the first Test cap for Afghanistan.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Afsar Khan Zazai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 August 1993 Kabul, Afghanistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 1) | 14 June 2018 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 14 June 2023 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 34) | 28 November 2014 v UAE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 14 June 2017 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 78 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 24) | 11 October 2013 v Kenya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 7 October 2023 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 40 (previously 78) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Band-e-Amir Region | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Amo Sharks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 17 October 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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International career
editHe effected nine dismissals in six games at the Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in September 2009.[1][2] He was just 16 when he was included in the Afghanistan squad for 2010 Under-19s World Cup in New Zealand.[3] In 2012, he played his second Under-19s World Cup in Australia.[4][5]
He was just 18 when he made his first-class debut for Afghanistan in an Intercontinental Cup match in Sharjah. In the second innings, he scored an unbeaten 84, leading to Afghanistan's three-wicket win over The Netherlands.
The Netherlands were favorites to win when they had reduced Afghanistan to 111 for 6 in their chase of 233 on the second day. But Zazai did not give up and along with Mohammad Nabi’s 25 and Samiullah Shenwari’s 20 not out took Afghanistan to second position on the points table behind Ireland.[6]
Afsar added 76 with Nabi and an unbroken 46 for the eighth wicket with Shenwari. He hit 13 boundaries in his unbeaten innings of 84 from 156 deliveries. Though Nabi fell to Michael Swart with the score on 187, Shenwari supported Afsar as he carried Afghanistan to the target.
He made his One Day International debut for Afghanistan against the United Arab Emirates on 28 November 2014.[7]
In March 2017, he scored his maiden first-class century, when Afghanistan faced Ireland in round five of the 2015–17 ICC Intercontinental Cup.[8]
In September 2018, he was named in Kabul's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[9]
In May 2018, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for their inaugural Test match, played against India.[10][11] He made his Test debut for Afghanistan, against India, on 14 June 2018.[12]
In September 2021, he was named as one of two travelling reserves in Afghanistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[13]
References
edit- ^ Most dismissals in 2009 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier
- ^ Ireland, Scotland notch up fifth wins
- ^ Afghanistan Under-19s Squad for ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2009/10
- ^ Afghanistan Under-19s Squad for ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2012
- ^ Afghanistan, Scotland stay in contention for ninth place
- ^ Debutant Zazai leads Afghanistan to improbable win
- ^ "Afghanistan tour of United Arab Emirates, 1st ODI: United Arab Emirates v Afghanistan at Dubai (CA), Nov 28, 2014". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
- ^ "ICC Intercontinental Cup, Afghanistan v Ireland at Greater Noida, Mar 28-31, 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ^ "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Afghanistan Squads for T20I Bangladesh Series and on-eoff India Test Announced". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Afghanistan pick four spinners for inaugural Test". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ "Only Test, Afghanistan tour of India at Bengaluru, Jun 14-18 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ "Rashid Khan steps down as Afghanistan captain over team selection". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
External links
edit- Afsar Zazai at ESPNcricinfo
- Afsar Zazai at CricketArchive (subscription required)