Afghanistan has made giant strides in World cricket ever since they have stepped onto the international arena in 2010. Unlike many other associate nations, they are a team with a lot of promise who work mighty hard to compete against the big teams.

ICC has rewarded them with test status and in the coming years, Afghanistan will don the whites.

On Sunday their batsman, Shafiqullah Shafaq smashed a 71-ball 214 in a domestic T20 game. His knock which included 21 fours and 16 sixes stormed his team Khateeb Cricket Academy to a resounding total of 351. Shafiqullah was well supported by his brother Waheed Ullah who scored 81 off just 31 balls. In response Kabul Star Cricket Club was bowled out for 107, losing by a whopping 244 runs.

Born on 7 August 1989, Shafiqullah is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from Nangarhar who made his debut for Afghanistan in 2009. He has played 16 ODIS and 30 T20Is for Afghanistan. He has also been part of Afghan’s 2012, 2014 and 2016 ICC World T20 campaigns.

With Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, already making their mark in IPL and having cricketers Shafiquallah, Shenwari and Shapoor Zadran in their ranks, the talent is in loads in Afghanistan. It is only a matter of time before they become full-time members of ICC and beat big teams in ICC tournaments.

– by Atharva Apte