Gurbaz found his rhythm in the 50-over format.
Long known for its prowess in T20 cricket, Afghanistan appears to have found its foothold in the 50-over format thanks to his extensive experience in franchise-based leagues. After an impressive performance at the 2023 World Cup, Afghanistan grew confidently and now takes part in the Champions Trophy in the back of consecutive ODI series victories in Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and has been a historic against South Africa It’s winning.
Afghanistan always boasted a strong bowling attack, but their batting was often an issue of concern in ODI. The main challenge was the tendency to play with the T20 mindset, which could hinder the ability to effectively build innings in the 50 over format. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai have adapted well to the demands of ODI cricket and have played a key role in Afghanistan’s recent success.
Since his international debut, Garbuzz has been seen as a special talent known for his offensive shotmaking and fearless approach to bowlers, regardless of their reputation. However, his temperament in ODI was often a concern, as his overly aggressive style sometimes led to his downfall. However, in 2024, Garbaz finds his rhythm in the 50-over format, showing greater calm. In 11 innings he won the 3rd century and the 50s, with an impressive 48.27 on average. As Zadran was sidelined, Garbaz stepped up and matured to deliver, winning key hundreds in series-deciding matches against both South Africa and Bangladesh
“Gerbuzz is a truly talented guy, super athlete and super fit. He is one of the most difficult workers I have the privilege to work with. He is very well prepared. He’s been hit a lot of balls and he puts himself in. He really wants to do well. And he does what he needs to do to be his game and one of the best in the world. He’ll get better and better as he learns,” Afghan batting coach Andrew Pattic says in a chat with Clickbuzz.
“I think he’s made some small technical adjustments, but Garbi’s main thing isn’t building innings, it’s the way he does his talent the best. He’s got the situation a little better in the match. He’s about to play. He’s realising. He takes responsibility as one of the best batters at the top of the order, and he sets the tone for us for us.
“We all like to keep the bowlers under pressure, we like to use our feet, and when he uses his feet he’s a little more controlled (playing) a little closer to his body, he He’s a little more controlled bowling and trying to hit the height he’s trying to hit bowling. Two flashy things. He wants to hit long.
“He’s a pretty striker on the ball, he gets such a quick foot, he spins really well, he bowls really well, he scores quickly.
“It keeps telling him that we don’t need to drive all the balls out of the ground, and he can hit the bat at his own tempo, score and naturally have a 100 strike rate. He has won 400 (300), and already he is a special player and will be exciting for him and Afghan cricket,” the batting coach adds.
Omarzai’s batting has been greatly improved, complementing his already impressive bowling skills ©Getty
Meanwhile, the rise of Omarzai was a huge positive for Afghanistan. His batting has improved dramatically, complementing his already impressive bowling skills, making him a real all-around. Omarzai has won a great 2024 2024, earning 17 wickets with an average of 20.47. This earned an impressive 52.12 average of 417 runs, including a 4-18 standout spell against Zimbabwe. His all-around brilliance earned him the honor of becoming the first Afghan player to win the ICC Men’s Odys Cricketer of the Year Award.
Puttick praises Omarzai for bringing the perfect balance to his team and giving Jonathan Trott the opportunity to hit orders higher. His presence in the middle order and his contributions during the important middle overs significantly strengthened Afghanistan’s confidence.
He (Omarzai) brings balance to the team with his bowling, and he can bowl with a new ball. He comes at age 5, but he can come at any point in the innings and he has the great ability to get off the strike. He gets the ability to get in and get off the strikes very easily, get off the pressure and clear boundaries, and he is one of the pretty strikers on the ball,” Puttick says.
“I think he has a natural ability (to hit the bat despite not previously considered a batter), coach Jonathan liked what he saw when he came in, He encouraged Azmat to work on his batting and to wake him up in order and give him the opportunity.
Afghanistan has shown strong growth in the ODI format as key players such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai step up and adapt to the format. As they head towards the 2025 Champions Trophy, Afghanistan is no longer just an exciting underdog, it’s a team that can compete against the best. If their upward trajectory continues, they could become very serious candidates at the global stage.
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