Afghanistan | Allrounder
Azmatullah Omarzai is an Afghan cricketer from Nurgal District of Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan. Azmatullah started playing cricket when he was 14 years old. He won the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award 2024. He made his international debut for the Afghanistan cricket team in January 2021.
| Full Name Azmatullah Omarzai | Born March 24, 2000 | Age 25y 66d |
| Batting Style Right hand Bat | Bowling Style Right arm Medium fast | Playing Role Allrounder |
TEAMS
Azmatullah Omarzai: Afghanistan’s Dynamic All-Rounder – A Comprehensive Career Breakdown
About Him
Born on March 24, 2000 , in Kabul, Afghanistan , Azmatullah Omarzai emerged as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler , blending aggressive strokeplay with handy seam contributions.Standing at 5 ft 9 in , his compact build and versatility have made him a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s cricketing future.
Early Career & Domestic Rise
Omarzai’s journey began in Afghan domestic leagues, where he honed his skills as a middle-order batter. His T20 debut came on October 7, 2018 , for Paktia Panthers in the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) , showcasing early glimpses of his all-round potential.By 2020 , he shared first place in the Shpageeza Cricket League , cementing his reputation as a rising star in Afghan cricket . His performances in these leagues highlighted his adaptability to high-pressure T20 environments, earning him national attention .
International Breakthrough
Omarzai’s international debut arrived in January 2021 , when he represented Afghanistan in an ODI series, marking the start of a rapid ascent. Initially a specialist batter, he gradually developed his medium-fast bowling, adding depth to his game . His T20I debut further solidified his role as an all-rounder, with his breakthrough moment coming during the T20 World Cup 2024 , where he scored 87 runs and took 6 wickets across seven matches, aiding Afghanistan’s historic semifinal run .
His ability to anchor innings and break partnerships with the ball has made him indispensable in limited-overs cricket. Against Sri Lanka in 2023, he showcased his match-winning flair, scoring a quickfire 42 off 30 balls * to chase down 165 .
IPL Journey: From GT to PBKS
Omarzai’s IPL debut came on March 24, 2024 , representing Gujarat Titans (GT) , where he displayed his finishing skills in high-stakes chases . Despite limited opportunities in 2024, his potential caught the eye of franchises, leading to his acquisition by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for IPL 2025 . Though still finding his footing in the league, his ability to strike sixes in the death overs and bowl crucial overs makes him a strategic asset for his teams.
Other T20 Leagues & T10 Ventures
Beyond the IPL, Omarzai has consistently featured in the Afghanistan Premier League and Shpageeza Cricket League , where he averages 32.50 with the bat and maintains an economy rate of 8.20 as a bowler . In the 2023 Shpageeza League , he took 4 wickets while scoring 187 runs , underlining his all-format reliability. While he has yet to participate in the T10 format , his aggressive style suggests he could thrive in the ultra-short format if given the chance.
Strong Zones & Playing Style
Omarzai excels as a middle-order enforcer , capable of accelerating run rates with his 360-degree strokeplay. His strength lies in targeting short balls and exploiting gaps in the offside, often anchoring innings during collapses. As a bowler, he relies on accuracy and late swing, specializing in choking oppositions during middle overs. His fielding agility adds another dimension, making him a three-dimensional asset .
Legacy & Future Prospects
At just 25 , Omarzai has already become a linchpin of Afghanistan’s ODI and T20I squads. His performances in the T20 World Cup 2024 signaled his arrival as a global all-rounder, drawing comparisons to Afghanistan’s legends like Mohammad Nabi . With consistent performances in the IPL and international cricket, he is poised to elevate Afghan cricket further, inspiring the next generation of cricketers in his homeland
Azmatullah Omarzai Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 39 | 31 | 9 | 1033 | 149* | 46.95 | 1054 | 98.00 | 1 | 8 | 69 | 45 | 8 | 0 |
| T20Is | 47 | 37 | 4 | 474 | 34 | 14.36 | 427 | 111.00 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| FC | 6 | 7 | 3 | 149 | 40* | 37.25 | 263 | 56.65 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 71 | 56 | 17 | 1749 | 149* | 44.84 | 1676 | 104.35 | 1 | 12 | 115 | 80 | 23 | 0 |
| T20s | 126 | 94 | 24 | 1314 | 62* | 18.77 | 997 | 131.79 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 70 | 35 | 0 |
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 1 | 2 | 132 | 74 | 1 | 1/66 | 1/74 | 74.00 | 3.36 | 132.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 39 | 38 | 1209 | 1112 | 37 | 5/58 | 5/58 | 30.05 | 5.51 | 32.6 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| T20Is | 47 | 42 | 670 | 935 | 31 | 4/9 | 4/9 | 30.16 | 8.37 | 21.6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 6 | 9 | 732 | 401 | 17 | 4/73 | 8/155 | 23.58 | 3.28 | 43.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 71 | 69 | 2372 | 2148 | 66 | 5/58 | 5/58 | 32.54 | 5.43 | 35.9 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| T20s | 126 | 119 | 2224 | 3097 | 111 | 4/9 | 4/9 | 27.90 | 8.35 | 20.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Azmatullah Omarzai T20 Stats
Batting & Fielding
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 13 | 7 | 1 | 80 | 21* | 13.33 | 60 | 133.33 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| SA20 | MICT | 5 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 13 | 6.00 | 19 | 94.73 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| LPL | JK | 9 | 7 | 5 | 123 | 35* | 61.50 | 52 | 236.53 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| BPL | 2 teams | 20 | 17 | 6 | 260 | 47* | 23.63 | 196 | 132.65 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| PSL | PZ | 6 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 16* | 13.00 | 14 | 185.71 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| APL | PP | 3 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 11* | 11.00 | 22 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 13 | 12 | 234 | 377 | 9 | 2/27 | 2/27 | 41.88 | 9.66 | 26.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SA20 | MICT | 5 | 5 | 72 | 96 | 2 | 1/7 | 1/7 | 48.00 | 8.00 | 36.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LPL | JK | 9 | 9 | 156 | 289 | 8 | 2/31 | 2/31 | 36.12 | 11.11 | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BPL | 2 teams | 20 | 20 | 386 | 473 | 22 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 21.50 | 7.35 | 17.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PSL | PZ | 6 | 6 | 140 | 229 | 10 | 3/28 | 3/28 | 22.90 | 9.81 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| APL | PP | 3 | 2 | 48 | 73 | 2 | 1/34 | 1/34 | 36.50 | 9.12 | 24.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Debut/Last Matches of Azmatullah Omarzai
Test Matches
Only
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan at Bulawayo – December 26 – 30, 2024
ODI Matches
Debut
Afghanistan vs Ireland at Abu Dhabi – January 21, 2021
Last
Afghanistan vs Australia at Lahore – February 28, 2025
T20I Matches
Debut
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan at Mirpur – March 03, 2022
Last
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan at Harare – December 14, 2024
FC Matches
Debut
Mis-Ainak vs Speen-Ghar at Kunar – March 25 – 28, 2018
Last
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan at Bulawayo – December 26 – 30, 2024
List A Matches
Debut
Amo-Region vs Mis-Ainak at Khost – August 10, 2017
Last
Afghanistan vs Australia at Lahore – February 28, 2025
T20 Matches
Debut
Panthers vs KingsLeopard at Sharjah – October 07, 2018
Last
PBKS vs DC at Jaipur – May 24, 2025
2025 IPL TEAM
Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super kings Gujrat Titans Kolkata knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru