Hazratullah Zazai (Pashto: حضرت الله ځاځی; born 23 March 1998) is an Afghan cricketer. He made his international debut for the Afghanistan cricket team in December 2016.[1] In February 2019, he scored an unbeaten 162 runs off 62 balls against Ireland, which is the highest individual score by an Afghan batsman in a Twenty20 International.[2]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 23 March 1998 Paktia, Afghanistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Opening batter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| ODI debut (cap 44) | 27 August 2018 v Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 11 November 2019 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 35) | 16 December 2016 v United Arab Emirates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 18 February 2023 v United Arab Emirates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–present | Amo Sharks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–present | Kabul Zwanan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Dhaka Dynamites | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–20 | Rajshahi Royals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Galle Gladiators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Peshawar Zalmi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 18 February 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic and T20 franchise career
editHe made his List A debut for Amo Region in the 2017 Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament on 10 August 2017.[3] He made his first-class debut for Band-e-Amir Region in the 2017–18 Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament on 20 October 2017.[4]
In September 2018, he was named in Kabul Zwanan's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[5] On 14 October 2018, in the match against Balkh Legends, Zazai hit six sixes in one over.[6] In the process, Zazai also equalled the record for the fastest fifty in Twenty20 cricket, from twelve balls.[7] He was the leading run-scorer for Kabul Zwanan in the tournament, with 322 runs in ten matches.[8]
In October 2018, he was named in the squad for the Dhaka Dynamites team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League.[9] In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Rajshahi Royals in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.[10] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Galle Gladiators for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League.[11]
International career
editHe made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against the United Arab Emirates on 16 December 2016.[12] He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Ireland on 27 August 2018.[13]
In August 2018, against Ireland, he scored the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan cricketer, in 22 balls.[14] In February 2019, in the second T20I match against Ireland, he scored 162 not out,[15] his first century in a T20I match.[16] It was the highest score for an Afghan batsman in a T20I match, and the second highest score overall, behind Aaron Finch's 172.[15] His innings included a record 16 sixes,[15] and his first-wicket partnership with Usman Ghani was also a record for any wicket in a T20I, with 236 runs scored.[15] Afghanistan finished their innings with 278 runs for the loss of three wickets, the highest total in a T20I match.[15]
In April 2019, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[17][18] In September 2021, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[19]
In May 2024, he was named as a reserve player in Afghanistan’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Hazratullah Zazai". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Hazratullah Zazai 162*, Afghanistan 278 - a record-breaking T20I". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "2nd Match, Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament at Khost, Aug 10, 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
- ^ "1st Match, Alokozay Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament at Amanullah, Oct 20-23 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Hazratullah Zazai smashes six sixes in an over in front of 'idol' Gayle". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ "Hazratullah Zazai becomes third to hit six sixes in an over in T20s". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "Afghanistan Premier League, 2018/19 - Kabul Zwanan: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ "Full players list of the teams following Players Draft of BPL T20 2018-19". Bangladesh Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- ^ "BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Afghanistan tour of United Arab Emirates, 2nd T20I: United Arab Emirates v Afghanistan at Dubai (DSC), Dec 16, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "1st ODI, Afghanistan Tour of Ireland at Belfast, Aug 27 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ "Zazai's 33-ball 74 sets up Afghanistan victory over Ireland". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Hazratullah Zazai cuts loose, Afghanistan demolish Ireland, T20I record books". Cricket Country. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Hazratullah Zazai's night to remember". CricBuzz. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "Hamid Hassan picked in Afghanistan's World Cup squad; Naib to captain". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Asghar Afghan included in Gulbadin Naib-led World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Rashid Khan steps down as Afghanistan captain over team selection". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Afghanistan's squad for the ICC Men's T20I World Cup". ScoreWaves. Retrieved 7 June 2024.