T20 cricket always offers different challenges to the player. The player who could go through those challenges went on to achieve some big things in the game. One of the most important things about this format is that there is no weaker or stronger team. The team that performed well within those 20 overs went on to win the game. And here we will talk about one such team that doesn’t have much experience in the game but has definitely become a good side in recent years.
Afghanistan has been a good team in T20 format because they have a good combination of world-class spinners and a decent batting attack. This team also holds the record for the highest T20I total of 278/3, which came against Ireland. That shows the firepower Afghanistan can bring. In this article, we will cover the fastest T20I fifty for this team.
5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (22 balls) vs Sri Lanka in 2022
There are four batters who hold the joint-second fastest T20I fifty for Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is one of them. His fastest fifty came against Sri Lanka in the 2022 Asia Cup at Sharjah. Sri Lanka won the toss and bowled first. For Afghanistan, Gurbaz gave them a quick start and hit a 22-ball fifty. He made 84 off 45 balls, with four fours and six maximums. Afghanistan made 175/6 in their 20 overs. But they couldn’t defend the title, and Sri Lanka made 179/6 in 19.1 overs and won the game.
4. Najibullah Zadran (22 balls) vs Zimbabwe in 2019
Another Afghan player with a 22-ball half-century in T20I is Najibullah Zadran. He hit it against Zimbabwe in 2019. It was the second game of the tri-series between Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan at the Mirpur Stadium. After winning the toss, Zimbabwe chose to bowl first. Afghanistan made 197/5 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a 22-ball fifty from Zadran. He scored an unbeaten 69* off 30 balls, with five fours and six sixes. In reply. Zimbabwe scored 169/7 and lost the game by 28 runs.
3. Hazratullah Zazai (22 balls) vs Ireland in 2018
Hazratullah Zazai is another batter who has scored the joint-second fastest fifty for Afghanistan. It came in 2018 against Ireland at the Bready Stadium. Ireland won the toss and bowled first. Afghanistan posted a decent total of 160/7 in their first innings. Zazai gave them a good start and made a 22-ball fifty. He scored 74 off 33 balls, with eight fours and six sixes. Chasing the target, Ireland managed only 144/9 and lost the game by 16 runs.
2. Najibullah Zadran (22 balls) vs UAE in 2016
Najibullah Zadran is the only Afghan batter who has hit two 22-ball T20I 50. The first came against the UAE in December 2016 at the Dubai Cricket Stadium. UAE won the toss and batted first. They had a good performance with the bat and made 179/4 in their first innings. It was a competitive total, and Afghanistan kept losing wickets in the middle. But in the end, a cameo from Zadran sealed the deal for Afghanistan. He hit a 22-ball fifty and made an unbeaten 55* off 24, with five fours and three sixes, and they made 183/5 to win it by five wickets.
1. Mohammad Nabi (21 balls) vs Ireland in 2017
The fastest T20I half-century is registered under the name of veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. It was made in 2017 against Ireland at the Greater Noida Stadium. It was the third T20I game of the three-match series. Batting first, Afghanistan got a good start from Mohammad Shahzad (72 off 43). But they needed a good finish to end on a high. That is what happened. Nabi hit a 21-ball fifty and made 89 off 30 balls, with six fours and nine sixes. Afghanistan made 233/8. In reply, Ireland also batted well, but they fell short by 28 runs and got out for 205 runs in 19.2 overs.
List of Fastest 50 in T20 for Afghanistan
| Player | Balls | Score | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Nabi | 21 | 89 (30) | Ireland | Greater Noida | 12/03/2017 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 22 | 55* (25) | UAE | Dubai (DSC) | 16/12/2016 |
| Hazratullah Zazai | 22 | 74 (33) | Ireland | Bready | 20/08/2018 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 22 | 69* (30) | Zimbabwe | Dhaka | 14/09/2019 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 22 | 84 (45) | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 03/09/2022 |
| Najibullah Zadran | 22 | 50(24) | Ireland | Belfast | 15/07/2022 |
| Shafiqullah | 24 | 51* (24) | Hong Kong | Chattogram | 18/03/2014 |
| Mohammad Shehzad | 24 | 74 (37) | UAE | Edinburgh | 10/07/2015 |