Afghanistan cricket team was not among the top cricket teams in the world when the Indian Premier League was launched. The IPL began in 2008, and the Afghan team made their debut in the ICC T20 World Cup in the year 2010.
The Asian team did not fizzle out like the other teams who rose to the top once. Instead, the team produced some of the best talents in the world, especially in the T20 format. Several players of the nation now play in T20 leagues across the world. In fact, Rashid Khan has also achieved the feat of captaining an IPL team. He led the Gujarat Titans against the Chennai Super Kings in 2022 and the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023.
Several players from the Asian nation have made their debut. Here’s a list of three such cricketers from the nation who made their IPL debut in the ongoing season.
1. Afghanistan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rahmanullah Gurbaz remained unsold at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction, but the youngster joined the Gujarat Titans as a replacement for Jason Roy. He did not play any matches. In the end, Gurbaz got an opportunity to lift the trophy. GT then traded him to KKR, and he made his debut in the first match itself for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
2. Afghanistan youngster Noor Ahmad
Another player from the Asian nation who warmed the benches at the Gujarat Titans last year is their left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad. The youngster lifted the IPL trophy as well. He made his debut as an Impact Player against the Rajasthan Royals at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
3. Naveen-ul-Haq
Naveen-ul-Haq made his debut yesterday for the Lucknow Super Giants against the Rajasthan Royals. He impressed fans with his right-arm pace. He is likely to continue as a backup for Mark Wood.
