'Destructive' Afghan batters deserve BBL chance: Rashid

We know the spinners – Rashid Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi – just to name few, but their superstar leggie believes it's Afghanistan's top-order batters that deserve a chance in this year's Big Bash.

The league has received nominations from 27 Afghan players for Sunday's KFC BBL|12 Draft with spinners Rashid (Adelaide Strikers), Qais Ahmad (Melbourne Stars), Mujeeb (Brisbane Heat) and Zahir Khan (Melbourne Renegades) eligible for retention having played last season.

While Afghanistan has certainly produced world-class spinners during its rise to full member status over the past decade, it's their batters that are starting to make a name for themselves on the global stage.

And Rashid is adamant they have the talent and the skills, and all they need is the opportunity.

"I would be happier to see the batsmen rather than the bowlers," he told cricket.com.au.

"We have so many bowlers playing all around the world, but I would be so happy if our batsman took that responsibility to play in all the leagues.

"That might help them improve their cricket and it’d be a very good thing for Afghanistan cricket.

"Once they get that opportunity, they have performed really well in the past when some players have played in the PSL (Pakistan Super League).

"If they get that proper opportunity, they can show to the world how good they are."

Top of the list, according to Rashid, are their two big-hitting openers Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Zazai boasts the second highest score of all-time in T20 internationals behind Australian captain Aaron Finch's 172 against Zimbabwe.

The 24-year-old left-hander smashed 162no off just 62 balls against Ireland in 2019, a knock that included 11 fours and a whooping 16 sixes, the record in T20 internationals for an individual innings.

Zazai has a handsome T20 record of 2,522 runs at a strike rate of 145 in 82 matches in the Pakistan, Sri Lankan and Bangladesh leagues.

Gurbaz, a 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, also has a T20 century to his name, scoring 121no for Kabul Eagles in this year's Shpageeza Cricket League in Afghanistan.

Image Id: 3B157531B984412FA0CD5465A65FCC2A Image Caption: Hazratullah Zazai has top T20I score of 162no // AFP

He made his List A debut as a 15-year-old in January 2017 and has since scored 2,104 runs at a strike rate of 153 in 85 T20 matches, including in the Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Lankan Premier League.

Gurbaz was also signed by Gujarat Titans as a replacement for injured England batter Jason Roy in this year's Indian Premier League but didn't feature in the tournament.

"They are very destructive batters, especially in the short format," said Rashid.

"They've done so well so far and if they get the opportunity, I'm pretty sure they're going to deliver their best."

Azmatullah Omarzai, a "very talented allrounder", is another with big wraps from Rashid.

The 22-year-old made his T20 international debut in March, collecting 2-31 and was one of only three Afghan batters to reach double figures (20 off 18) as they were soundly beaten by Bangladesh.

Image Id: 566733A9E671463F80BF4C78B181C973 Image Caption: Azmatullah Omarzai is a talented allrounder // AFP

The right-hander was player-of-the-match with an incredible 66 off 23 balls when Afghanistan upset hosts New Zealand in the quarter-final of the 2018 Under-19 World Cup and BBL clubs could be eyeing his T20 career strike rate of 132.95 and an economy rate of 7.17 as a handy late round draft selection.

Also in the draft pool is veteran 'keeper-batter Mohammad Shahzad, who along with Zazai are the only batters to reach triple figures for Afghanistan in T20Is.

His 118no from 67 balls came against Zimbabwe in 2016 and the 35-year-old has scored 4,197 runs across his 150-game career in the shortest format.

Another nominee is 17-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in June and is currently playing with the Welsh Fire in England's Hundred competition.

Left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi, who played three matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year's IPL, is also in the draft pool, as is 22-year-old right-armer Naveen-ul-haq, who was the second leading wicket-taker in this year's T20 Blast with 24 wickets at 16.16 for Leicestershire.

"I'm so excited we're going to see the Afghan players in the draft and hopefully they will be picked in different teams where they can express their talent, get the opportunity to learn more and get better and better," said Rashid.

Afghanistan BBL|12 Draft nominations

Eligible for retention: Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers), Qais Ahmad (Melbourne Stars), Mujeeb ur Rahman (Brisbane Heat), Zahir Khan (Melbourne Renegades)

Other nominees: Noor Ahmad, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Zia ur Rehman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shafiqullah Ghafari, Usman Ghani, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Hamid Hassan, Hamza Hotak, Waqarullah Ishaq, Nangeyalia Kharote, Izharulhaq Naveed, Azmatullah Omarzai, Abdul Rahman Rahmani, Waqar Salamkheil, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Shahzad, Naveen-ul-haq Murid, Ghamai Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai

Image Id: https://www.cricket.com.au/~/media/News/2022/07/BBL-draft-order?la=en&hash=4AE6FB0B4F134F189B20FE1111E0BA90E8F9850C Image Caption: The order for the BBL|12 Draft has been determined

The BBL|12 Draft will be held on Sunday, August 28 and broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports following the first ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.

Click here for a full list of players to have nominated for the BBL|12 Draft.