Afghanistan achieved a historic eight-run victory against England in their first ICC Champions Trophy match, thanks to Ibrahim Zadran’s 177 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s 5 for 58. Omarzai became the third Afghan pacer to accomplish a five-wicket haul in ODIs. The article reviews five-wicket hauls by Afghan seamers, including Gulbadin Naib and Hamid Hassan.
Afghanistan made history in their inaugural ICC Champions Trophy by achieving a remarkable eight-run victory over England in their second match. This win was largely attributed to Ibrahim Zadran’s outstanding performance, scoring 177 runs, and Azmatullah Omarzai’s exceptional five-wicket haul of 5 for 58. With this performance, Omarzai became only the third Afghan pacer to secure five wickets in an ODI match. Here, we highlight the five-wicket hauls recorded by Afghan seamers in One Day Internationals.
1. Gulbadin Naib – 6/43 vs Ireland (Belfast, 2019)
Gulbadin Naib delivered an exceptional bowling performance, claiming figures of 6 for 43 against Ireland during the 2019 ODI in Belfast. He initiated his onslaught by dismissing Paul Stirling, who scored 50 runs, and continued to dismantle the Irish batting lineup with further dismissals, leading to a 126-run victory for Afghanistan.
2. Hamid Hassan – 5/45 vs UAE (Dubai, 2014)
Hamid Hassan marked a significant milestone in Afghan cricket in 2014 by becoming the first Afghan pacer to achieve a five-wicket haul in ODIs, achieving 5 for 45 against the UAE in Dubai. His impressive bowling restricted the opposition to 258 runs, although Afghanistan ultimately fell short, getting bowled out for 228 runs.
3. Azmatullah Omarzai – 5/58 vs England (Lahore, 2025)
As previously mentioned, Azmatullah Omarzai played a pivotal role in Afghanistan’s victory over England by securing figures of 5 for 58 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. His exceptional performance saw him take crucial wickets, including that of Jos Buttler and centurion Joe Root, as England was dismissed for 317 while chasing a target of 326 runs. With this achievement, Omarzai now holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Afghan bowler in ICC ODI tournaments.
In conclusion, Afghanistan’s emergence as an ODI cricketing force is exemplified by their pacers’ five-wicket hauls in significant matches. Gulbadin Naib’s 6 for 43, Hamid Hassan’s 5 for 45, and Azmatullah Omarzai’s 5 for 58 against top teams like Ireland, UAE, and England respectively showcase their bowling talent and potential. These performances have not only led to notable victories but also highlighted the growing prowess of Afghan cricket on the world stage.
Original Source: www.newsbytesapp.com
