Overview
Afsar Khan Zazai (Pashto: افسر ځاځی; born 10 August 1993) is an Afghan cricketer who plays as a right-handed wicket-keeper batsman. He is recognised primarily for his batting ability behind the stumps and was a member of the Afghanistan side that played the country's first ever Test match, becoming the first player to be awarded a Test cap for Afghanistan.
Key Facts
| Full name | Afsar Khan Zazai |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 August 1993 |
| Nationality | Afghan |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Role | Wicket-keeper batsman |
| National team | Afghanistan |
| Test debut | June 2018, against India |
| Notable distinction | First Test cap for Afghanistan |
Background
Born on 10 August 1993, Afsar Zazai emerged through Afghan domestic cricket as a wicket-keeper with a reputation for his batting skills. His surname references the Zazai (Dzadzi) Pashtun tribal community.
Career
International cricket
Afsar Zazai was selected in the eleven-man squad that represented Afghanistan in its inaugural Test match, played against India in June 2018. The fixture was historic for Afghan cricket as it marked the country's elevation to the highest format of the international game following the granting of Test status by the International Cricket Council. Afsar holds the distinction of being the first cricketer to receive a Test cap for Afghanistan.
Significance
As the recipient of Afghanistan's first Test cap, Afsar Zazai occupies a permanent place in the country's cricketing history. His selection for the maiden Test, alongside the ten other debutants, marked Afghanistan's formal entry into Test cricket and represented a milestone in the rapid development of the sport in the nation.
Related topics
- Afghanistan national cricket team
- India v Afghanistan Test match, 2018
- Cricket in Afghanistan
- Wicket-keeper
- List of Afghanistan Test cricketers