By SRTeam Cricket isn’t just a game in Afghanistan; it’s a sign of hope and togetherness for a country that’s known so many hard times. Afghanistan has worked hard over the years to become a cricketing nation that is so strong that it has players who have wowed fans around the globe. By the time 2025 rolls around, the Afghan cricket team is not only stronger, but also a highly respected option internationally.
Afghanistan’s players fearlessly play, they play without thinking what can happen if a ball hits their bodies or several players fall due to injury, they play by their natural talent and constantly crave to succeed. They have shone in every type of cricket match be it strong batting or amazing bowling. In this article you will get to know about the Top Afghanistan Cricket Players in 2025 highlighting their skill, achievement and how they have contributed to the team.
For the big fan or newbie to Afghan cricket, this is your chance to be introduced to the men shaping the future of the game in Afghanistan. These cricketing heroes have won the hearts of players and fans everywhere!
Here is the list of 10 Best Afghanistan Cricket Players in 2025
1. Ibrahim Zadran (Batsman)
Talented Afghan cricketer Ibrahim Zadran was born on December 12, 2001. Afghanistan’s T20I vicecaptain now, he made his Test debut in 2019. In 2017 Ibrahim began his career by playing List A and T20 games for Mis Ainak teams. He scored Afghanistan’s first World Cup century (129*) in 2023, also playing his first World Cup. He is known for his adaptability and performances at Tests and T20s — his nerves of plaster of Paris and the ability to build strong foundations for his team.
2. Mohammad Nabi (All-Rounder)
Born on January 1, 1985, Mohammad Nabi is an Afghan cricketer, and former captain of Afghanistan’s cricket team. His aggressive batting and his skillful off spin bowling has given him quite a name. Through 2024, he helped Afghanistan beat 45 different teams in international cricket. In 2025 too, Nabi is a big player with his good hitting, astute bowling and sensible approach. He loves stepping up, he loves coming into big moments and you can tell fans love the guy too because he steps up in big moments with both bat and ball.
3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicket-Keeper)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was born on November 28, 2001, is an Afghanistan cricketer. Batting left-handed, Gurbaz belongs to the Gurbaz tribe who belong to Afghanistan and started playing for Afghanistan only in 2019. In 2021, he became Afghanistan’s first to score a century in his ODI debut against Ireland. Gurbaz went on to play in the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups and 2023 Cricket World Cup. He remains famous for his unbelievable wicket keeping and explosive batting.
4. Gulbadin Naib (All-Rounder)
Afghan cricketer Gulbadin Naib bats right-handed and bowls both fast-medium; he was born on June 4, 1991. Afghanistan’s ODI skipper in 2019, he was replaced by Rashid Khan after the Cricket World Cup. He led his team to an Asian Games silver medal in 2022. Naib helped Afghanistan win its historic match against Australia during the 2024 T20 World Cup with 4 wickets. He’s known for leading and with determination the Spartans haven’t stopped motivating their teammates or their fans.
5. Najibullah Zadran (Batsman)
Afghan cricketer and vice-captain of Afghanistan’s T20I squad is Najibullah Zadran, born on February 28, 1993. He bats left-handed and bowls off breaks from the right arm, debuting internationally in 2012. It is also the year Zadran played in the 2019 Cricket World Cup and was appointed T20I vice-captain in 2021. Afghanistan named him in their squads for the 2021 and 2024 ICC T20 World Cup tournaments. He is famous for remaining cool in a crisis and striking big shots, and is one of cricket’s best closers.
6. Karim Janat (All-Rounder)
Afghan cricketer Karim Janat was born on 11 August 1998. He debuted in first class on 7 December 2016 against the England Lions. He also played for Afghanistan in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup before that. He represented Afghanistan’s squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in September 2021. He made his Test debut against Bangladesh in June of 2023. Karim will become one of Afghanistan’s most reliable all-rounders by 2025.
7. Rashid Khan (Bowler)
Rashid Khan is among the most known Afghan cricketers. He was born on September 20, 1998, and currently plays for the Afghanistan national team and is their T20I captain. Moreover, he competes in several leagues such as IPL for Gujarat Titans, Big Bash League representing Adelaide Strikers, PSL playing for Lahore Qalandars and some more. Rashid performs as a right-arm leg spinner and a right-handed batsman that hits the ball with considerable power. In 2019, he took Afghanistan’s debut 5-wicket haul in Test cricket. By 2025, he will become a popular cricket player worldwide.
8. Fareed Ahmad (Bowler)
An Afghan cricketer Fayeed Ahmad was born on August 10, 1994. His One Day Internationals (ODI) debut came on 2 December 2014’s match against the United Arab Emirates. In addition he played in the 2014 Asian Games. Fareed made his T20I debut for Afghanistan against UAE on December 14, 2016. He joined Kabul’s squad for the Afghanistan Premier League in 2018. Afghanistan selected him as a reserve in the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He joined the team that brought the T20 World Cup trophy home in 2024, and then became a key bowler in 2025.
9. Azmatullah Omarzai (All-Rounder)
Born March 24, 2000 in Nurgal District, Kunar, Afghanistan Azmatullah Omarzai is a cricketer. Starting playing cricket at 14, he debuted with Afghanistan’s team in January 2021. He played at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, and was a member of the T20I side for the 2022 tour of Bangladesh. Football was the game played as a child by Azmatullah until he chose cricket. He was selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in May 2024 and modernized into a key all-rounder for Afghanistan’s 2025.
10. Mohammad Saleem (Bowler)
Last but not least, the Afghan cricketer Mohammad Saleem was born 9 September 2002. He made his first-class debut for Kunduz Province in February 2019 and his List A debut for Amo Region in September 2019. He joined Afghanistan’s ODI squad in January 2022 in a series against the Netherlands. He made his ODI debut inJuly 2023 against Bangladesh. In addition, Saleem made Twenty20 debut in 2020 for Boost Defenders. He played a strong role in the running and bounce and is seen as one of future stars of Afghanistan’s cricket team.
Conclusion
The story of cricket in Afghanistan is all about strength, effort, love for the game. These players have earned a name for themselves, as well as raised Afghanistan on the world cricket stage. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan proves the great spin bowler in the world whereas Gurbaz is the best batsman from the same nation. Who knows? Some of these players could be legends. They are right now the pride of Afghanistan and are inspiring cricket fans all over the world. Let’s let these heroes do even better in the future!