Who is Azmatullah Omarzai? Everything you need to know about the talented Afghanistan all-rounder

Azmatullah Omarzai, the Afghanistan all-rounder, has been in the news lately. Ever since his brilliant performance in the recent ICC World Cup 2023, the Afghanistan cricketer has only risen in stature and even got an Indian Premier League contract as well.

He was born on March 24, 2000, in Nurgal District of Kunar province in Eastern Afghanistan. He took up cricket at the age of 14 and made his List A debut for Mis Ainak Region in the 2017 Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament in 2017. 

He has also been part of several T20 leagues as well, playing for Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League, and leagues like the Abu Dhabi League as well. 

He has also been part of the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. 

He has played 25 ODIs and 31 T20Is for Afghanistan since making his debut in 2021. He has 35 wickets and 950 runs for Afghanistan. He has one century and five fifties in ODIs and 33 is his highest score in T20Is. 

Azmatullah Omarzai shines for Afghanistan against Sri Lanka

Most recently, Omarzai scored a brilliant 149* in 115 balls with 13 fours and six sixes as he added 242 runs with Mohammad Nabi in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele as Afghanistan made a valiant effort to chase down Sri Lanka’s 381 runs.

His bowling was at its best during the Australia match against Afghanistan in Mumbai during the ICC World Cup 2023. He picked the wickets of David Warner and Josh Inglis to reduce Australia to 91/7 in a chase of 292 runs. 

In the ICC World Cup 2023, his batting was also highlighted as he gave a valiant effort with the bat during Afghanistan’s match against South Africa. He made 97* as Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first. He hit seven fours and three sixes in his knock and was left stranded three runs short of his maiden hundred in the tournament.

Omarzai was rewarded well for his brilliant performance in the World Cup as in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) auction, he was picked up for his base price by IPL 2022 winners Gujarat Titans.