Fazalhaq Farooqi continues to lead Afghanistan attack with distinction

5/9. WOW! Vs Uganda…Naah!

But what would you make of the spell Fazalhaq Farooqi bowled against New Zealand? 3/17 in the powerplay is just what Afghanistan would have wanted after setting New Zealand 160 to chase.

The first ball of the innings set the tone. Finn Allen, who has not played a game of this intensity in a while, was drawn by the length into playing an on-drive, but Fazalhaq bowled his trademark in-swinger to rattle the batter’s wickets. Allen showed he was scratchy on the field as well, dropping a sitter at deep square-leg to let Ibrahim Zadran off the hook. Safe to say, it was a day to forget for the youngster.

Fazalhaq ensured Devon Conway’s day did not get any better, given that the 32-year-old had a shocker behind the wickets today. Conway thought his luck had turned around after a thick outside edge found the fence, but he was forced to put a pin on it as he mistimed the ball straight to the man at cover off the very next delivery.

10 balls, two wickets, can you better it? That was the challenge for Farooqi and he came out with flying colours as he had Daryl Mitchell caught behind with yet another peach. In just three overs, Fazalhaq had the Blackcaps on the back foot and, from there on, it was always going to be a mountain to climb for the Kiwis, with the likes of Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad yet to bowl.

Fazalhaq was swinging it in, moving it away. He was swinging them from over the wicket, he was swinging it from around the wicket. Watching him work his magic, one could not help but wonder as to why Trent Boult did not get the ball to move around as much. According to the broadcasters, the average swing the New Zealand bowlers got was 1.4 °, Fazal alone moved generated a swing of 2.4 °.  Not just that, he hit the right lengths too.

In just three overs, the left-arm seamer questioned New Zealand’s selection as to why Tim Southee, another fine swing bowler, was benched for this tie.

While the Afghanistan spinners often take the limelight, things are slowly beginning to change. Look no further than Fazal’s last two performances as examples. This is something the their head coach Jonathan Trott also acknowledges. 

"We saw Fazalhaq [Farooqui] get five wickets last game, didn't we? And bowl really well. So, I think we need to have all bases covered, certainly when you play evening matches." Trott said ahead of this game, when asked about Afghanistan’s over-dependence on their spinners

"We have some very good seamers as well. Naveen, Fazal, Azmat [Omarzai], Karim Janat, or Gulbuddin [Naib] can be called upon. So, we're very fortunate to have a lot of all-rounders and a lot of options for the skipper. At his disposal. So very, very key that we get those combinations right and bowlers bowling at the right times but Rashid's such an experienced player he knows exactly when to do things and how to go about it."

As it turned out, Rashid did know how to go about things. After Fazal did the damage early, the skipper picked up four wickets to completely derail New Zealand’s chase. While there’s no doubt Rashid has been an amazing servant for Afghanistan cricket, Fazalhaq, 23, has been phenomenal. The left-arm pacer has already led the bowling attack well. And, with age on his side, he could serve his nation for many more years to come.

Since 2023, Fazal is Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker with 35 scalps at 17.60 to go with an economy rate of 6.40. He already has nine scalps in the ongoing T20 World Cup in just two matches, which include five in the powerplay.  

He has kept it simple. Often bowling wicket-to-wicket lines, with the ball doing the rest. When there is swing on offer, it moves around a bit and when he comes back later in the innings, he pulls the length back just a tad, given that there is very little to no swing at that point.

With an outstanding net run-rate, it would be safe to assume that Afghanistan are now favourites to go through to the Super Eights.

Rashid and Mohammad Nabi may have picked up six wickets between them, but they cannot forget that it's Fazalhaq who they have to thank as it's he who has set it all up in the powerplay for them. 

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