Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Zadran has become the youngest player to ‘take a fifer’ in ODI cricket. Mujeeb rushed through the top order and then wrapped up the innings later on to stun Zimbabwe batsmen in the fourth ODI of the 5-match ODI series. His bowling figures at the end of Zimbabwe’s innings were 50 for 5 in 10 overs. The off-spinner is clearly not afraid to toss the ball up, and go for wickets upfront rather than stopping the flow of runs.
The soon to be 17-year-old Mujeeb broke Waqar Younis’ record of being the youngest person to take five or more wickets in an ODI. Mujeeb’s age was 16 years and 325 days when he achieved this feat whereas Younis achieved the feat when he was 18 years and 164 days old.
Mujeeb shot to fame when he picked a five-wicket haul in Under-19 Asian Championship final. Consistent performances at Under-19 players earned him a spot in the senior side and he has not disappointed since.
Here’s the video of his maiden fifer –
Here is a list of bowlers who took five-wicket haul in ODIs before turning 19 –
Mujeeb Zadran vs Zimbabwe, February 16, 2018 (16 years 325 days)
Waqar Younis vs Sri Lanka, April 29, 1990 (18 years 164 days)
Waqar Younis vs New Zealand, May 1, 1990 (18 years 166 days)
Rashid Khan vs Ireland, March 17, 2017 (18 years 178 days)
Rashid Khan vs Windies, June 9, 2017 (18 years 262 days)
Wasim Akram vs Australia, February 24, 1985 (18 years 266 days)
Waqar Younis vs New Zealand, November 4, 1990(18 years 353 days)
Waqar Younis vs New Zealand, November 6, 1990 (18 years 355 days)
Waqar Younis vs Windies, November 9, 1990 (18 years 358 days)
Aftab Ahmed vs New Zealand, November 5, 2004 (18 years 361 days)
Congratulations @MujeebR99 !!! pic.twitter.com/HCqhmkapcF
— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 16, 2018
He has taken 18 wickets in 7 ODIs already, and is very much in contention to break Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis’ record of being the fastest to take 50 ODI wickets (18 matches). The youngster has signed a deal with Comilla Victorians in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), followed by a whopping INR 4 crore deal with Kings XI Punjab in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 auctions. He is the youngest millionaire in IPL history and will also be the youngest to play in the history of the tournament.
It was a great day for @ACBofficials as they claimed the #AziziBankCup ODI series against @ZimCricketv.
Read more: https://t.co/uREfiYfcNq pic.twitter.com/Dq2VbKpjxF— Afghan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 16, 2018
Mujeeb’s tally of records does not end there. He also became only the second spinner in the history of ODI cricket to open the bowling attack and bag a fifer. The only other cricketer to do so is Bermuda’s Dwayne Leverock who took 5 for 53 against Kenya in 2006.
A prodigy in international cricket, this Afghani bowler has stunned the greats with his exemplary bowling skills. He had three fifers in youth ODIs. Mujeeb is the first bowler born in 21st century to take a five-wicket haul.
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He is only the second youngest to take a fifer in international cricket. Former Pakistan bowler Nasim-ul-Ghani still holds the record he created on March 13, 1958 against West Indies, which Mujeeb missed by a margin of two days.
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At this point in his career, it seems like Mujeeb is following Afghan leggie Rashid Khan’s footsteps. He and Rashid have formed a formidable bowling duo who might cause a few problems against top brass teams as Afghanistan plays more and more international cricket.
