Azmatullah Omarzai

The Award Nobody Saw Coming

In January 2025, the ICC announced its Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year.

The name was Azmatullah Omarzai.

For the first time in history that award went to an Afghan — a 26-year-old all-rounder from the Nurgal District of Kunar, a province most cricket fans could not find on a map.

It was not a sympathy vote. He had scored 417 runs at an average of 43.72 and taken 17 wickets at under five runs per over across a single year — with match-winning performances against South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

Afghanistan cricket had arrived. Azmatullah Omarzai was its flag bearer.

A Province Shaped by Conflict

Azmatullah was born on 24 March 2000 in the Nurgal District of Kunar Province — a rugged, mountainous region in eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He was a footballer first. Cricket was not the obvious choice for a boy growing up in Kunar, where conflict shaped daily life and outdoor activity was often limited to daylight hours.

That changed in 2014 when Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. The win swept through a generation. Azmatullah was 14. He put down the football and picked up a bat.

He never looked back.

From Kunar to the Domestic Circuit

Within three years of taking up cricket he was playing List A cricket — making his debut for Mis Ainak Region on 10 August 2017 in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament.

His first-class debut followed in March 2018 for Speen Ghar Region. That same year the selectors named him in Afghanistan's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup — international recognition before he had turned 18.

In September 2018 he joined Paktia for the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League and made his T20 debut for Paktia Panthers on 7 October 2018. Two years later the 2020 Shpageeza Cricket League gave him his first major individual honour — joint Player of the Tournament.

The foundations were set.

International Debut

Afghanistan named Omarzai in their ODI squad for the Ireland series in January 2021. He made his ODI debut on 21 January 2021 — cap number 49.

The T20I debut took longer. Visa issues delayed his Zimbabwe selection. He finally pulled on the Afghanistan T20I shirt on 3 March 2022 against Bangladesh — cap number 44.

The early years were a patient build. He came in as a genuine all-rounder: middle-order bat, new-ball swing, death-over wickets. The role fit him perfectly and Afghanistan used him carefully.

His 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign — 353 runs across nine innings and seven wickets — announced him to the world.

2024: The Year Everything Changed

In ODIs that year he scored 417 runs at an average above 50 and took 17 wickets at an economy under five. He contributed to series wins over Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe — all in one calendar year.

The ICC named him Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024. The first Afghan player ever to win it.

At the 2025 Champions Trophy he went further. Against England he scored 41 off 31 balls and took his first ODI five-wicket haul — 5/58 — in the same match. Two days later his 67 off 63 helped Afghanistan post 273 against Australia.

Career Statistics

Stats as of 16 February 2026

Records and Achievements

• ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2024 — first Afghanistan player to win the award
• Five-wicket haul vs England at 2025 Champions Trophy (5/58)
• ODI century — 149* vs Sri Lanka in January 2024, built from a team score of 55/5
• 242-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi against Sri Lanka — one of Afghanistan's greatest ODI partnerships

The Pakistan Connection

For Pakistani fans Azmatullah Omarzai is not a stranger.

In 2023 he pulled on the Peshawar Zalmi kit for the PSL. Zalmi's fanbase is predominantly Pashtun. Omarzai — a Pashtun from Kunar — was embraced immediately. The shared language, culture and border meant that when he bowled for Peshawar, the crowd felt it differently.

He is not just an Afghan cricketer Pakistan watches. He is one they claim.

IPL Career — From Gujarat to Punjab Kings

Gujarat Titans picked him up at the 2024 IPL auction for INR 50 lakh. He made his IPL debut against Mumbai Indians and impressed with his ability to swing the new ball early.

Punjab Kings then entered a bidding war with Chennai Super Kings at the 2025 mega-auction and secured him for INR 2.4 crore — a price that reflected exactly how fast his stock had risen. He was retained by Punjab Kings for the 2026 season.

In IPL 2026 he continues to be one of PBKS's key all-round weapons — the same player who a decade ago was kicking a football in Kunar, wondering what came next.

Franchise Career at a Glance

Personal Life

Azmatullah Omarzai was born and raised in Kunar Province. He is known among teammates for his quiet intensity and dedication to improving both his batting and his bowling — a complete cricketer who does not rely on talent alone.

Beyond cricket he keeps his personal life private.

Latest News

Azmatullah Omarzai is currently playing for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. Follow HotInPakistan for match updates, scorecard breakdowns, and coverage of every PBKS match this season.