Abdul Malik

Abdul Malik is a top-order batter from Afghanistan who has built a reputation for solidity and patience since his early days in domestic cricket. Born in March 1998 in Baghlan, he rose through the regional ranks with a technically sound batting approach. His solid defensive technique and ability to play long innings quickly made him a standout player for the Amo Region, marking him out as a future pillar of the national top order.

Malik's domestic breakthrough came in late 2017 when he made his first-class debut in the Ahmad Shah Abdali Four-Day Tournament. He followed that up with his List A and T20 debuts in 2019, consistently scoring runs against tough domestic bowling attacks. His impressive performances did not go unnoticed and he was soon selected for the Afghanistan squad in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh. His first international call-up arrived in March 2021 for a Test series against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi. Although he suffered a difficult start by being dismissed for a pair on debut, his resilience and dedication kept him in the plans of the selectors. He returned to domestic cricket to refine his game, working hard on his shot selection and patience at the crease.

Abdul's transition to white-ball international cricket took a major step forward in September 2024 when he made his ODI debut against South Africa in Sharjah. Later that year, he scored a brilliant 84 against Zimbabwe, proving that he belongs at this level and can anchor an innings against quality bowling. He continued to be a dependable presence for both the national team and Afghanistan A. His standing in the Test setup was firmly reaffirmed when he was named in Afghanistan's squad for the one-off Test against India in June 2026, one of the biggest assignments in Afghan cricket history.