Afsar Zazai

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 ever Test match, against India, in June 2018. He is the first Test cap for Afghanistan.

For the Indian politician, see Afsar Khan (politician).

Afsar Zazai
Personal information
Full name
Afsar Khan Zazai
Born (1993-08-10) 10 August 1993
Kabul, Afghanistan
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 1)14 June 2018 v India
Last Test14 June 2023 v Bangladesh
ODI debut (cap 34)28 November 2014 v UAE
Last ODI14 June 2017 v West Indies
ODI shirt no.78
T20I debut (cap 24)11 October 2013 v Kenya
Last T20I7 October 2023 v India
T20I shirt no.40 (previously 78)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2017Band-e-Amir Region
2017Amo Sharks
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 5 17 2 34
Runs scored 172 264 33 1,438
Batting average 24.57 17.60 16.50 33.44
100s/50s 0/0 0/2 0/0 2/9
Top score 48* 60 24 124
Catches/stumpings 9/1 20/2 0/2 78/10
Source: Cricinfo, 17 October 2023
Medal record
Representing  Afghanistan
Men's Cricket
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2022 HangzhouTeam

International career

He 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 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 second innings he scored unbeaten 84 in 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
  1. Most dismissals in 2009 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier
  2. Ireland, Scotland notch up fifth wins
  3. Afghanistan Under-19s Squad for ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2009/10
  4. Afghanistan Under-19s Squad for ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2012
  5. Afghanistan, Scotland stay in contention for ninth place
  6. Debutant Zazai leads Afghanistan to improbable win
  7. "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.
  8. "ICC Intercontinental Cup, Afghanistan v Ireland at Greater Noida, Mar 28-31, 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. "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.
  11. "Afghanistan pick four spinners for inaugural Test". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  12. "Only Test, Afghanistan tour of India at Bengaluru, Jun 14-18 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. "Rashid Khan steps down as Afghanistan captain over team selection". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
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