Afghanistan’s second ODI win over South Africa in Sharjah on Friday delivered not only a significant victory but also a series of fascinating details.
The Afghan batsmen—Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, and Azmatullah Omarzai—amassed 270 of their team’s 311/4 without a single bat sponsor between them, a telling reflection of their rise despite being overlooked commercially.
Gurbaz was the star with a calm and commanding 105 off 110 balls, marking his seventh ODI century and the first by an Afghan against South Africa. Omarzai’s explosive 86* off 50 balls further boosted Afghanistan’s total, with the duo contributing nearly 90% of the team’s score.
Curiously, only seasoned players Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan sported bat stickers. For Rashid, a global T20 superstar, this is expected. Nabi, with a near-unbroken presence in Afghanistan’s 315 international matches, has earned his share of sponsorship.
However, this sponsorless top-order effort highlights that Afghanistan’s team is more than its two most well-known players. This squad is confidently emerging from the shadows of Rashid and Nabi.
In a game where Rashid pulled a hamstring early, the team’s resilience was put to the test. Despite the setback, they surged, adding 40 runs in the last 22 balls and closing the innings with 311/4. When it came to defending their total, Afghanistan demolished South Africa for a paltry 134 in 34.2 overs, with all 10 wickets tumbling for just 61 runs in 20.3 overs.
Rashid, celebrating his 26th birthday, defied his hamstring injury to claim 5/19 in nine overs, cementing his place as the only player to take five wickets on his birthday in any international format.
He was well-supported by young Nangeyalia Kharote, who took 4/26 in only his second ODI. Rashid’s remarkable performance, despite the injury, was critical, even as South Africa struggled under the weight of his skill and the confidence of his teammates.
It was a victory that marked Afghanistan’s first-ever ODI series win against South Africa and their most emphatic triumph to date. With confidence growing in their ranks and their stars continuing to shine, Afghanistan’s cricket future looks brighter than ever.