Fazalhaq Farooqi

Fazalhaq Farooqi is a left-arm medium-pacer emerging at light speed. A maverick with the ball in hand, Farooqi has become a T20 specialist, at a very young age like many of his teammates from Afghanistan. Seeing his emergence, the pacer was roped by Chennai Super Kings as a net bowler.

A wunderkind has proved his class at the age-group cricket. The pacer made his first-class debut for Amo Region in the Ahmad Shah Abdali Tournament during the 2017-18 season, at aged 17 years. He made his List-A in the domestic one-day competition. 

In 2018, Farooqi was picked by Nangarhar for the inaugural edition of the Afghanistan Premier League. It followed with the 2018 ACC Emerging Asia Cup where the southpaw donned Afghanistan U-23 colors. 

In 2020, he once again represented his national side, this time during the U-19 World Cup of 2020, where the pacer finished as the third-highest wicket-taker. Farooqi represented Bangla Tigers in the T10 Abu Dhabi league during the 2020-21 season. 

In 2021, the southpaw got his maiden call-up during the Zimbabwe series. Though Farooqi could make his debut during the Test series but was rewarded during the T20I series. He made his international debut during the third T20I against Zimbabwe in March and scalped the wicket Tinashe Kamunhukamwe in his first game. 

Later that month, the Afghani was roped by IPL’s second-most successful franchise, Chennai Superkings for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League as a net bowler. Earlier, he has served Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) as a net bowler during the 2020 season. 

Farooqi has showcased a lot of promise in his limited outings. The young prodigy has shown his geniuses with his accuracy and ability to bowl fast on any kind of deck. Now, it is up to the Afghanistan Board to use a talent like Farooqi.

(As of March 2021)