Afsar Zazai

A wicketkeeper - batting prodigy from Kabul, Afghanistan, Afsar Zazai was unearthed before he could turn old enough to vote. He was only 16 when he was included in the Afghanistan squad for 2010 Under-19 World Cup. Zazai was there in the squad for the 2012 edition as well, which speaks a lot about his cricketing prowess.

In 2012, Zazai was called up for his First-Class debut at the age of 18 against the Netherlands in the Intercontinental Cup. He played a match-winning knock of 84* in the second innings and helped his team chase down the total of 233, which once looked way out of reach when they were struggling at 111/6.

His maturity at the First-Class level made him a household name in his country and eventually earned him a spot in the Afghanistan National side in the ODIs. He made his debut against UAE in a four-match series in late 2014. Due to the presence of Mohammad Shehzad in the national squad, Zazai had to wait for his chance but once the selectors came knocking on his door, he made sure that he didn’t spill it.

Zazai's 60 off 109 in the first match, followed by 51 off 83 in the second and overall six dismissals in the series saw him become the first-choice wicketkeeper for Afghanistan in the 2015 World Cup Squad when Shahzad was dropped due to fitness issues. Although, after the mega event, his form dipped and he struggled to get into the national team.

In 2018, he made a comeback to play the one-off Test against India in India, thanks to his promising average of 38.11 in First-Class cricket. He has represented Afghanistan across all major formats including ODIs and T20s, delivering several crucial knocks under pressure. A major highlight of his international career came during the Asian Games where he helped the national team secure a historic silver medal in the T20 format. His ability to guide the lower order and rotate strike has been vital for his side.

In the domestic circuit, he has been a true pillar of strength for regional
teams like Mis Ainak Region and Boost Region. His immense experience makes him a natural leader on the field, helping groom the next generation of Afghan cricketers. His domestic record is filled with substantial scores that reflect his consistency and deep understanding of the game.

His exceptional form carried through the 2025 domestic season and reached new heights in 2026. Playing for Boost Region in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament in May 2026, he smashed consecutive centuries, including a spectacular 121 and an unbeaten 100. These recent performances prove that his class is permanent and he remains one of the finest wicketkeeper-batters in the
country.