Afghanistan | Bowler
Noor Ahmad Lakanwal is an Afghan cricketer. He made his international debut for the national team in June 2022.
| Full Name Noor Ahmad Lakanwal | Born January 03, 2005, Khost | Age 20y 137d |
| Batting Style Right hand Bat | Bowling Style Left arm Wrist spin | Playing Role Bowler |
Teams
About Noor Ahmad
Noor Ahmad Lakanwal, born on January 3, 2005, in Herat, Afghanistan, is a prodigious left-arm chinaman bowler and right-handed batsman who has rapidly emerged as a global cricket sensation . Known for his deceptive spin and aggressive temperament, Noor combines raw talent with a fearless approach, making him a standout performer in modern T20 cricket.
Early Career & Domestic Cricket
Noor’s cricketing journey began in Afghanistan’s domestic leagues, where his unorthodox left-arm wrist spin drew immediate attention. By age 14, he made his first-class debut, showcasing maturity beyond his years . His performances in Afghanistan’s domestic T20 tournaments further solidified his reputation as a “mystery spinner,” a term coined due to his ability to bowl leg-spin, googlies, and topspinners with minimal changes in grip or action .Transitioning from local matches to national recognition, Noor’s rapid rise exemplifies Afghanistan’s thriving cricket ecosystem .
International Career
Noor earned his maiden call-up to the Afghanistan national team in June 2022, marking a historic milestone as one of the youngest players to debut in international cricket . His debut series tested his adaptability across formats, but his T20I performances stood out. Bowling in high-pressure situations, he troubled batsmen with his variations, earning praise for his composure and skill. By 2025, Noor had become a regular in Afghanistan’s T20I setup, often tasked with bowling death overs due to his yorker accuracy and ability to extract turn on sluggish pitches .
Indian Premier League (IPL) Journey
Noor’s breakthrough came in the 2023 IPL , where he was signed by Gujarat Titans after initially serving as a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings in 2022. In his debut IPL season, he took 16 wickets at an economy rate of under 8, playing a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans’ run to the final .His ability to dismantle middle orders with his googlies and his knack for taking wickets in the powerplay and death overs made him a fan favorite. By 2025, Noor had evolved into a marquee spinner, attracting bids from multiple franchises in subsequent auctions .
Other T20 Leagues
Noor Ahmad has showcased his talent across multiple global T20 leagues, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and impactful bowler:
- SA20 League : Noor became a standout performer in South Africa’s premier T20 tournament. In the 2025 SA20 season , he took 8 wickets in 6 matches at an impressive strike rate of 17.25 , including a career-best 5/11 for Durban Super Giants. His ability to extract sharp turn and deliver yorkers under pressure made him a key asset for his team.
- Pakistan Super League (PSL) : Representing Karachi Kings in the 2023 PSL, Noor leveraged his left-arm wrist-spin to trouble top-order batsmen, particularly on spin-friendly pitches. Though his wicket tally was modest, his economy rate and variations impressed coaches and fans alike .
- Big Bash League (BBL) : Noor’s brief stint with Melbourne Stars in the 2020 BBL exposed him to high-octane Australian cricket. While he didn’t get frequent opportunities, the experience honed his adaptability to pace-friendly conditions and aggressive batting lineups .
- International League T20 (ILT20) : Initially signed by Sharjah Warriors in 2023, Noor faced a 12-month ban in 2024 due to a contractual breach, halting his participation in the league . This setback highlighted the challenges of balancing international and franchise commitments.
- Caribbean Premier League (CPL) : As of 2025, Noor has yet to feature in the CPL, though his rising global profile could attract interest from franchises in the future .
- T10 League (MENS100) : While Noor’s involvement in the Abu Dhabi T10 League remains unverified, his skill set—particularly his yorkers and googlies—aligns perfectly with the league’s ultra-short format .
Noor’s performances across these leagues underscore his adaptability and growing influence in T20 cricket, even as contractual hurdles like the ILT20 ban temporarily disrupt his global trajectory
Strengths & Playing Style
Noor’s strongest zone lies in his left-arm chinaman bowling , which baffles right-handed batsmen with its angle and dip. His arsenal includes:
- Googlies : A lethal weapon that spins sharply from outside the leg stump.
- Topspinners : Deceptive deliveries that pitch fuller and bounce higher.
- Yorkers : Executed with precision during death overs.
Additionally, his aggressive batting lower down the order adds value to his all-round profile .
Legacy & Impact
Noor Ahmad has become a symbol of Afghanistan’s cricketing resurgence. As a teenage sensation, he inspires a generation of Afghan cricketers to embrace innovation and resilience. His performances in the IPL and international cricket have elevated Afghanistan’s status as a force in T20 cricket . With a career trajectory that blends youth and experience, Noor is poised to follow in the footsteps of legends like Rashid Khan, cementing his legacy as one of Afghanistan’s greatest spinners .
Noor Ahmad Career Stats
Bowling
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 13 | 13 | 635 | 644 | 10 | 3/49 | 3/49 | 64.40 | 6.08 | 63.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 14 | 13 | 228 | 264 | 7 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 37.71 | 6.94 | 32.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 4 | 6 | 666 | 399 | 21 | 6/105 | 7/159 | 19.00 | 3.59 | 31.7 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| List A | 21 | 21 | 1061 | 986 | 26 | 4/54 | 4/54 | 37.92 | 5.57 | 40.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20s | 144 | 142 | 3103 | 3735 | 170 | 5/11 | 5/11 | 21.97 | 7.22 | 18.2 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODIs | 13 | 6 | 1 | 46 | 26 | 9.20 | 64 | 71.87 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| T20Is | 14 | 8 | 2 | 41 | 12 | 6.83 | 53 | 77.35 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| FC | 4 | 7 | 0 | 85 | 47 | 12.14 | 102 | 83.33 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 21 | 7 | 1 | 48 | 26 | 8.00 | 80 | 60.00 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| T20s | 144 | 49 | 19 | 185 | 20 | 6.16 | 196 | 94.38 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 37 | 0 |
Noor Ahmad T20 Stats
Bowling
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 35 | 35 | 750 | 1004 | 44 | 4/18 | 4/18 | 22.81 | 8.03 | 17.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| SA20 | DSG | 16 | 15 | 338 | 364 | 25 | 5/11 | 5/11 | 14.56 | 6.46 | 13.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| CPL | SLK | 12 | 12 | 282 | 291 | 22 | 3/18 | 3/18 | 13.22 | 6.19 | 12.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Major League Cricket | TSK | 4 | 4 | 96 | 121 | 9 | 3/27 | 3/27 | 13.44 | 7.56 | 10.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LPL | 2 teams | 23 | 23 | 523 | 574 | 23 | 3/27 | 3/27 | 24.95 | 6.58 | 22.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ILT20 | SW | 7 | 6 | 126 | 148 | 4 | 2/27 | 2/27 | 37.00 | 7.04 | 31.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Men’s 100 | WF-M | 1 | 1 | 15 | 31 | 0 | – | – | – | 12.40 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PSL | 2 teams | 8 | 8 | 186 | 251 | 6 | 2/19 | 2/19 | 41.83 | 8.09 | 31.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BBL | MR | 6 | 6 | 132 | 184 | 2 | 1/27 | 1/27 | 92.00 | 8.36 | 66.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Batting & Fielding
| Tournament | Teams | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 2 teams | 35 | 12 | 4 | 18 | 7* | 2.25 | 34 | 52.94 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| SA20 | DSG | 16 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7* | 3.50 | 5 | 140.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| CPL | SLK | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 4 | 25.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Major League Cricket | TSK | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6* | 7.00 | 7 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| LPL | 2 teams | 23 | 9 | 4 | 59 | 20 | 11.80 | 53 | 111.32 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| ILT20 | SW | 7 | 5 | 3 | 49 | 23 | 24.50 | 48 | 102.08 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Men’s 100 | WF-M | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9* | – | 4 | 225.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| PSL | 2 teams | 8 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 13* | 10.50 | 13 | 161.53 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| BBL | MR | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.00 | 2 | 50.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Debut/Last Matches of Noor Ahmad
ODI Matches
Debut
Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan at Pallekele – November 30, 2022
Last
Afghanistan vs Australia at Lahore – February 28, 2025
T20I Matches
Debut
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan at Harare – June 14, 2022
Last
Afghanistan vs South Africa at Tarouba – June 26, 2024
FC Matches
Debut
Kabul vs Boost at Kabul – April 29 – May 02, 2019
Last
Boost vs Speen-Ghar at Amanullah – October 26 – 27, 2022
List A Matches
Debut
Mis-Ainak vs Amo-Region at Kandahar – October 14, 2020
Last
Afghanistan vs Australia at Lahore – February 28, 2025
T20 Matches
Debut
MAK vs BDD at Kabul – October 08, 2019
Last
KKR vs CSK at Eden Gardens – May 07, 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