Afghanistan’s historic victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy featured star performances from Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai, with Omarzai achieving a five-wicket haul. This article highlights the achievements of all Afghan seamers who have claimed five-wicket hauls in ODIs, including Gulbadin Naib and Hamid Hassan, showcasing Afghanistan’s growing dominance in international cricket.
Afghanistan’s remarkable journey in cricket has witnessed a historic moment with their specific achievement in the ICC Champions Trophy. In their second match against England, they secured an eight-run victory, significantly contributed by Ibrahim Zadran’s outstanding 177 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai’s impressive five-wicket haul of 5/58. With this performance, Omarzai distinguished himself as only the third Afghan pacer to achieve such a feat in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
When examining the Afghanistan seamers who have recorded five-wicket hauls in ODIs, the first notable instance occurred with Gulbadin Naib, who took 6 wickets for 43 runs against Ireland in 2019. While defending a target of 306 runs, Naib initiated his destruction of the Irish batting order by dismissing Paul Stirling and further claiming crucial wickets, leading to Ireland’s collapse for a total of 179 runs, thus securing Afghanistan a 126-run victory.
The second Afghan pacer to reach this milestone was Hamid Hassan, who achieved 5 wickets for 45 runs against the UAE in Dubai in 2014. This match marked Hassan as the first Afghan bowler to secure a five-wicket haul in ODIs. His performance restricted the UAE to a score of 258/9, although Afghanistan fell short in their run chase, being bowled out for 228.
Most recently, Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a stellar performance with figures of 5/58 against England in Lahore, 2025. This achievement came during a crucial game where England sought to chase down a target of 326 runs, but Omarzai’s exceptional bowling dismantled their lineup, allowing Afghanistan to clinch a remarkable victory. His performance now holds the record for the best figures by an Afghan player in ICC ODI tournaments.
In summary, Afghanistan’s cricketing prowess has been exemplified through the notable achievements of its pacers in ODIs, particularly highlighted by Azmatullah Omarzai’s recent five-wicket haul. Gulbadin Naib and Hamid Hassan paved the way with their respective five-wicket achievements in earlier matches. Together, these performances not only showcase individual excellence but also signify Afghanistan’s growing stature in the cricketing world.
Original Source: www.newsbytesapp.com
