Who Is Allah Ghazanfar?
Ghazanfar's journey to cricket stardom began as a fast bowler, but former Afghanistan captain Dawlat Ahmadzai saw his potential as a mystery spinner and helped transform his bowling style.
Allah Ghazanfar is an 18-year-old spinner from Afghanistan who made history with a sensational performance in Afghanistan's first ODI against Bangladesh in Sharjah. Ghazanfar claimed 6 wickets for just 26 runs in 6.3 overs, leading his team to a 92-run victory over Bangladesh. His performance helped Afghanistan bowl Bangladesh out for 143, chasing a target of 236. This six-wicket haul is the best ever in an Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODI encounter, surpassing Shakib Al Hasan's 5-29 in 2019.
Ghazanfar's journey to cricket stardom began as a fast bowler, but former Afghanistan captain Dawlat Ahmadzai saw his potential as a mystery spinner and helped transform his bowling style. Ghazanfar rose to prominence during the 2024 U-19 World Cup, where he took 8 wickets in 4 matches, earning a call-up to the senior team. His debut in ODI cricket was against Ireland, and his performances continued to impress, including winning the Player of the Match award in the Emerging Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka A.
Additionally, Ghazanfar was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad that won the 2024 IPL title. Although he didn’t feature in any matches during the campaign, his inclusion as a replacement for Mujeeb Ur Rahman highlighted his potential.
Afghanistan's captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, has praised Ghazanfar’s talent, noting that he is a player to watch in the future.
