afghanistan cricket team
The Afghanistan team is climbing the ladder of progress very quickly in cricket. This year is going to be a great year for the Afghan team. After defeating a strong team like Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan recently created a new history by winning the ODI series against South Africa. Now Afghanistan has achieved a new feat by defeating Bangladesh heavily in the first match of the ODI series.
In fact, the ODI series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh began on October 6. In this first ODI match played in Sharjah, Afghanistan did wonders with both the ball and bat. Batting first, Afghanistan lost 4 wickets in 35 runs but after this, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and veteran Mohammad Nabi played an important role in taking their team to 235 runs.
Bad conditions of Bangladesh
Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 52 runs while Mohammad Nabi scored 84 runs in 79 balls with the help of 4 fours and 3 sixes. In this way, the Afghanistan team managed to impose a challenging target of 236 runs on Bangladesh. Chasing the target, the Bangladesh team scored 120 runs after losing 3 wickets in 26 overs. After this, Afghanistan gave the ball to their young bowler Allah Ghazanfar and the entire Bangladesh team was reduced to the next 23 runs.
Allah Ghazanfar took a number of wickets for Bangladesh as soon as he received the ball. Ghazanfar made 6 batsmen his victims giving 26 runs in just 6.3 overs. With this, the 18-year-old Afghan spinner made history. Allah Ghazanfar became the 3rd youngest bowler to take 6 wickets in ODI cricket. Ghazanfar achieved this great feat at the age of 18 years and 231 days. He is the third youngest player to do so after Waqar Younis and Rashid Khan.
Youngest bowler to take a 6-wicket haul in ODI cricket
- Waqar Younis- 18 years 164 days
- Rashid Khan- 18 years 178 days
- Allah Ghazanfar- 18 years 231 days
Not only this, Ghazanfar had the second-best bowling performance for Afghanistan in ODIs, leaving behind Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib. Now only Rashid Khan surpasses him. Bangladesh’s last 7 wickets were within 11 runs. Thus, despite scoring 235 runs, the Afghanistan team managed to win by 92 runs. Afghanistan now leads 1-0 in the 3-match ODI series.
Best bowling performance for Afghanistan in ODIs
- 7/18 – Rashid Khan v West Indies, Gros Islet, 2017
- 6/26 – Allah Ghazanfar vs Bangladesh, Sharjah, 2024
- 6/43 – Rashid Khan vs Ireland, Greater Noida, 2017
- 6/43 – Gulbadin Naib vs Ireland, Belfast, 2019
- 5/17 – Mohammad Nabi vs Ireland, Sharjah, 2024
- 5/19 – Rashid Khan vs South Africa, Sharjah, 2024
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