AM Ghazanfar – Mystery demystified!
The #BatchOf2025 has well and truly assembled, raring to make its mark in the upcoming season of the Indian cricketing carnival!
A mix of seasoned campaigners & future stars made their way into the #OneFamily at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
As 2024 comes to a close, we are gonna talk about one such future star, who transitioned seamlessly from the domestic to the global circuit, making the selectors’ heads turn with his impressive performances.
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Journey from promising to prodigious
Ghazanfar भाऊ made his professional debut in the Shpageeza Cricket League 2022, a T20 competition in Afghanistan.
Not much was known about the 16-year-old rookie at the time as he took five wickets from three matches for Mis Ainak Knights, including a terrific 4/15 against Hindukush Stars in the very next game after his debut. 👏
Signs of things to come? DEFINITELY.
Fast forward to 2024 and the right-arm off-spinner is already making it big at the international level.
The Tri-Nation Under-19 Tournament 2023-24 featuring India, Afghanistan and home team South Africa saw Ghazanfar finish as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets in four innings alongside our former star Kwena Maphaka.
Well, that was enough for the mystery spinner to earn a spot in the Afghanistan squad for the Under-19 T20 World Cup 2024 where, once again, he didn’t put his foot off the paddle! 💪
Eight wickets in four fixtures at an economy of 3.35 was a bright spot in a rather underwhelming ride for his side.
…AND THERE COMES THE INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP!
This is it! The ODI leg of the Afghanistan vs Ireland series, held in March 2024, saw Ghazanfar weave his magic at the 🔝 level!
Post the T20 World Cup 2024, the teenage sensation was selected for the South Africa ODIs in Sharjah, UAE. Ghazanfar’s exceptional 3/20 in 10 overs in the opening match powered Afghanistan to a terrific six-wicket win, their first-ever against the Proteas across formats.
Thereafter, in the first game of the Bangladesh ODIs, Ghazanfar bagged his maiden five-fer – 6/26 – as Afghanistan cruised to a 92-run victory. Moreover, he also became the fifth youngest player to bag a five-wicket haul in ODIs. Maanla re!
𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒! 🎉
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) November 6, 2024
AMG Shines and AfghanAtalan register a terrific victory in the 1st match of the ODI series against @BCBtigers!
Enjoy the winning moments here! 👏#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvBAN | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/TvpJQ6AafQ
Ruko, It’s not over yet. Ghazanfar भावा delivered the festivities with another five-wicket haul, this time against Zimbabwe in December 2024! 🤩 Watch his stellar show here…
Ghazanfar gets another 5-fer!🪄
— FanCode (@FanCode) December 21, 2024
The spin sensation made light work of Zimbabwe's batting line-up to bag his 2nd 5-wicket haul in ODIs in only his 11th ODI. #ZIMvAFGonFanCode pic.twitter.com/7p4K4LbKYm
Hang on, 2024 got a whole lot better!
Our 18-year-old rising star couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present! 🎁 A maiden Test call-up on the back of splendid outings throughout the year!
Woh 𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙪𝙥 waali feeling 🥹
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 25, 2024
Congratulations, Ghazanfar 💙#ZIMvAFG #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/enAJazSoLt
Congratulations, AM Ghazanfar! The Paltan is rooting for your success in the purest format of the game! 💙
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Exciting times ahead for us!
A young gun, slowly and steadily, making a name for himself.
With IPL 2025 just a few months away, brace yourselves for some Ghazanfar wizardry, who fits perfectly into the demands of the modern-day T20 cricket formula.
