Mujeeb Ur Rahman Zadran (Pashto: مجیب الرحمن ځدراڼ; born 28 March 2001) is an Afghan cricketer, who plays for the Afghanistan national cricket team. Two months after his international debut, at the age of 16 years and 325 days, he became the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in a One Day International.[2] He was one of the eleven cricketers to play in Afghanistan's first Test match, against India, in June 2018. Afghanistan lost the one-sided Test within two days. Mujeeb scored 15 and 3 in the two innings, respectively, and got one wicket after conceding 75 runs.[3] It was also Mujeeb's first-class cricket debut.[4] His uncle, Noor Ali Zadran, is also an Afghan international cricketer.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Mujeeb in 2018
Personal information
Full name
Mujeeb Ur Rahman Zadran
Born (2001-03-28) 28 March 2001 (age 23)
Khost, Afghanistan
Height5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleBowler
Relations
International information
National side
Only Test (cap 7)14 June 2018 v India
ODI debut (cap 43)5 December 2017 v Ireland
Last ODI10 November 2023 v South Africa
ODI shirt no.88
T20I debut (cap 36)5 February 2018 v Zimbabwe
Last T20I16 July 2023 v Bangladesh
T20I shirt no.88
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2017Spin Ghar Region
2017Boost Defenders
2017–2019Comilla Victorians
2018–2020Kings XI Punjab
2018Hampshire
2024-presentGulf Giants
2018/19–2021/22Brisbane Heat
2019–2021Middlesex
2020Jamaica Tallawahs
2021–presentPeshawar Zalmi
2021Sunrisers Hyderabad
2021Northern Superchargers
2022Fortune Barishal
2022/23–2023/24Melbourne Renegades
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I
Matches 1 75 43
Runs scored 18 236 33
Batting average 9.00 9.07 6.60
100s/50s 0/0 0/1 0/0
Top score 15 64 18
Balls bowled 90 3,968 954
Wickets 1 101 56
Bowling average 75.00 28.34 17.83
5 wickets in innings 0 1 1
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 1/75 5/50 5/20
Catches/stumpings 0/– 11/– 7/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 11 November 2023

Domestic and T20 franchise career

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He made his List A debut for Speen Ghar Region in the 2017 Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament on 10 August 2017.[5] He made his Twenty20 debut for Boost Defenders in the 2017 Shpageeza Cricket League on 11 September 2017.[6] In November 2017, he was signed by Comilla Victorians for 2017–18 Bangladesh Premier League season.[7]

In January 2018, he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 IPL auction.[8][9] On 8 April 2018, at the age of 17 years and 11 days, he became the youngest cricketer to play in the Indian Premier League.[10]

In May 2018, he was signed by Hampshire County Cricket Club to play in the 2018 t20 Blast tournament in England.[11] In September 2018, he was named in Nangarhar's squad in the first edition of the Afghanistan Premier League tournament.[12] He was the joint-leading wicket-taker for the Nangarhar Leopards in the tournament, with twelve dismissals in nine matches.[13]

In February 2019, he was signed by Middlesex County Cricket Club to play in the 2019 t20 Blast tournament in England.[14] In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Cumilla Warriors in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.[15] On 30 December 2020, in the 2020–21 Big Bash League season, he took his first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, with 5 for 15 for the Brisbane Heat against the Hobart Hurricanes.[16] In February 2021, Mujeeb was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auction ahead of the 2021 Indian Premier League.[17]

International career

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He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2017 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup with twenty wickets in five matches that helped Afghanistan win their maiden ACC Under-19 Cup title.[18] As a result of this performance, he was named in Afghanistan's One Day International (ODI) squad in December 2017 for their series against Ireland.[19] He made his ODI debut for Afghanistan against Ireland on 5 December 2017.[20] On debut he took 4 wickets for 24 runs,[21] from his quota of 10 overs, and helped his team win by 138 runs. He was awarded man of the match for his performance.[22]

In December 2017, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[23] He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe on 5 February 2018.[24] On 16 February 2018 against Zimbabwe at Sharjah, Mujeeb took his maiden ODI five-wicket haul.[25] He became the youngest player ever to take an ODI five-wicket haul and was named the man of the match.[26][27]

In February 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Mujeeb as one of the ten players to watch ahead of the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.[28] On 15 March 2018 in the first match of the Super Sixes at the World Cup Qualifier, he took 3 wickets for 33 runs against the West Indies. He also took a catch off the bowling of Rashid Khan as Afghanistan beat them by 3 wickets, with Mujeeb earning his third ODI man of the match award.[29]

During the final of the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, between the West Indies and Afghanistan, Mujeeb returned with match figures of 4/43 in 9.5 overs, helping Afghanistan to restrict the West Indies to a score of 204.[30] Afghanistan chased the target of 205 losing only 3 wickets with ten overs to spare and clinched its first ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier title.[31][32][33] He was also the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament, along with fellow wrist spinner, Rashid Khan and Safyaan Sharif of Scotland with 17 wickets each.[34]

Following the conclusion of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament, the ICC named Mujeeb as the rising star of Afghanistan's squad.[35]

In May 2018, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for their inaugural Test match, played against India.[36][37] He made his Test debut for Afghanistan, against India, on 14 June 2018.[38] Mujeeb became the sixth player, and first for Afghanistan, to make his first-class debut in a Test match.[39] He became the first player born in the 21st century to play Test cricket and also became the youngest player to feature in their country's inaugural Test match (17 years and 78 days).[40][41] His first, and only, Test wicket was Cheteshwar Pujara.

In April 2019, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[42][43] Following the World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named Mujeeb as the rising star of the squad.[44]

In September 2021, he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[45] In Afghanistan's first match of the tournament, against Scotland, Mujeeb took his first five-wicket haul in T20I cricket, with five wickets for twenty runs.[46] With this, he also became the first player to take a five-wicket haul on T20 World Cup debut.[47]

In May 2024, he was named in Afghanistan’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.[48]

Personal life

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In 2020, he got married in Kabul at the age of 19.[49]

References

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  1. ^ "20 cricketers for the 2020s". The Cricketer Monthly. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Mujeeb Ur Rahman continues to makes history". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. ^ "IND vs AFG, AFG in INDIA 2018, Only Test at Bengaluru, June 14 - 15, 2018 - Full Scorecard". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Which bowler has dismissed the most opening batsmen in Tests?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  5. ^ "1st Match, Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament at Khost, Aug 10, 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  6. ^ "1st Match, Shpageeza Cricket League at Kabul, Sep 11 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  7. ^ "Comilla sign 16-year old Afghanistan offspinner Mujeeb Zadran". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  8. ^ "List of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  9. ^ "U19 World Cup stars snapped up in IPL auction". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Rahul floors Daredevils with fastest IPL fifty". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Hampshire trust in Mujeeb to bring Blast campaign to life". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Afghanistan Premier League 2018 – All you need to know from the player draft". CricTracker. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Afghanistan Premier League, 2018/19 - Nangarhar Leopards: Batting and bowling averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Mujeeb Ur Rahman joins Middlesex for Vitality Blast campaign". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  15. ^ "BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Hobart Hurricanes stunned by Afghanistan tweaker Mujeeb Ur Rahman". News.com.au. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  17. ^ "IPL 2021 auction: The list of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Faizi ton, Mujeeb five-for hand Afghanistan maiden U-19 Asia Cup title". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Mujeeb Zadran called for the ODI Series against Ireland". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  20. ^ "1st ODI (D/N), Ireland tour of United Arab Emirates at Sharjah, Dec 5 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Preview: Afghanistan U19 v Pakistan U19". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Teenager Mujeeb Zadran spins out Ireland". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Mujeeb Zadran in Afghanistan squad for Under-19 World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  24. ^ "1st T20I (N), Zimbabwe tour of United Arab Emirates at Sharjah, Feb 5 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Mujeeb's maiden five-for seals Afghanistan's series win". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  26. ^ "Mujeeb Zadran, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi fold Zimbabwe for 134 in 4th ODI". Cricket Country. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Spin once again Zimbabwe's downfall as Afghanistan seal series". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  28. ^ "10 stars to look out for at CWCQ". International Cricket Council. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  29. ^ "21st Match, Super Sixes, ICC World Cup Qualifiers at Harare, Mar 15 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  30. ^ "Mujeeb, Shahzad Complete Fairytale Comeback With Title Win. TOLOnews". TOLOnews. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Final, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Harare, Mar 25 2018. Match Report". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  32. ^ NDTVSports.com. "ICC World Cup Qualifiers: Afghanistan Thrash West Indies To Win Qualifying Final – NDTV Sports". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  33. ^ "The rapid rise of Mujeeb Ur Rahman". Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  34. ^ "The Rapid Rise Of Mujeeb Zadran. TOLOnews". TOLOnews. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  35. ^ "CWCQ 2018 Report Card: Afghanistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  36. ^ "Afghanistan Squads for T20I Bangladesh Series and on-eoff India Test Announced". Afghanistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Afghanistan pick four spinners for inaugural Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  38. ^ "Only Test, Afghanistan tour of India at Bengaluru, Jun 14-18 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  39. ^ "Records broken on Day 1 of the India-Afghanistan Test! - The12thMan". www.the12thman.in. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  40. ^ "Test cricket's first 21st century man arrives". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  41. ^ Desk, India.com Sports (14 June 2018). "IND v AFG: Mujeeb Becomes First 21st-century born Cricketer to Play Tests". India.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  42. ^ "Hamid Hassan picked in Afghanistan's World Cup squad; Naib to captain". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Asghar Afghan included in Gulbadin Naib-led World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  44. ^ "CWC19 report card: Afghanistan". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  45. ^ "Rashid Khan steps down as Afghanistan captain over team selection". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Mujeeb ur Rahman records five-wicket haul on World Cup debut". SportStar. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  47. ^ "Mujeeb magic and Scotland's record sequence of ducks". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  48. ^ "Afghanistan's squad for the ICC Men's T20I World Cup". ScoreWaves. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  49. ^ Dani, Bipin (18 November 2020). "Aged just 19, Afghanistan's spin sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman ties the knot". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
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