Let’s discuss someone beyond India, England, and Australia, shall we?
It is ironic that when cricket was limited to nine countries before 2000, almost every country received significant attention.
However, as it became a global sport post-2000, the situation reversed. Today, 12 countries play Test cricket, 20 are ODI cricket members, and a similar number have a good team (though all 104 members can play T20). Yet, most of the discussion revolves around India, England, and Australia.
This is a major reason why we have decided to pick an emerging player from an
emerging nation.
A Stylish Opener from the Land of Power Hitters
Since entering international cricket in 2009, Afghanistan has established its brand of playing cricket, which is aggressive but quite risky.
This aggressive style has resulted in significant progress in international cricket. However,
the Afghan batting order has always lacked someone who could provide a sense of calmness.
The arrival of Ibrahim Zadran in 2019 brought that calmness. The 18-year-old right-hand
batsman from Khost was deemed to be a promising talent.
In fact, within a few months of his debut, Zadran was shortlisted by ESPN Cricinfo as one of the 20 most promising players of the 2020 decade.
Among a plethora of power hitters, Zadran provides Afghanistan’s batting with a sense of security, thanks to his impeccable technique and strong temperament. At times he had to play in the shadow of his more popular teammates, but in Tests and ODI cricket, Afghanistan’s batting now revolves around him.
Ability to Play Long Innings and Score Big Runs
While Afghanistan has played Test cricket for only six years, Zadran emerges as one of the successful batsmen. With 362 runs in 5 Tests at an average of 36.20, he stands at no.4. While these figures are still in the nascent stage, with age on his side, it would be no surprise if he ends up writing a number of new records for Afghanistan in Test cricket.
One of the prime reasons to be positive about his success is Zadran’s capability to play long innings. He also possesses a solid First-Class record and has scored runs in the Ahmed Shah Abdali 4-day tournament, the domestic competition of Afghanistan.
Zadran’s performance is not limited to Tests
He is also a very good limited-over cricketer. In fact, his One Day Internationals record is more impressive than his longer format stats. In 28 ODIs, Zadran has scored 1287 runs at an average of 51.48, and during the course, he has notched up five hundreds.
He was Afghanistan’s best batsman in the recently concluded World Cup in India; it was his innings of 87 that ensured Afghanistan’s historic win over Pakistan. His hundred against Australia at Wankhede Stadium was the first by an Afghani player in the World Cup.
Against India, Ibrahim Zadran led Afghanistan in the absence of regular captain Rashid Khan, which is a
sign that the selectors might be keeping him in their long-term plans as the leader of the pack.
How Ibrahim Zadarn Could Be The Future of Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran seems to have a long-term future with the national team. It is a good sign that he does not crumble under pressure, something Afghanistan requires from their top order.
His presence at the top has also means that Afghanistan can sustain pressure on the opposition for a longer period. It is a prime reason why Afghanistan has improved as a 50- over side as well. Afghanistan will hope that Zadran will also help them establish themselves as a top-tier Test nation in years to come.
