Yamin Ahmadzai

Born on July 25, 1992, in Laghman Province, Yamin Ahmadzai is a skilled right-arm medium-fast bowler who serves as a core pace pioneer in Afghanistan's red-ball and international setups. Ahmadzai etched his name into his country's sporting history on June 14, 2018, by bowling the opening spell in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test match against India in Bengaluru. During that historic encounter, he claimed Afghanistan's first-ever Test wicket by dismissing opener Shikhar Dhawan.

Ahmadzai’s international breakthrough followed a prolific journey through domestic first-class competitions and age-group ranks. Operating with a repeatable, classical action, he established himself as a reliable opening bowler capable of delivering long, disciplined spells in red-ball cricket. His first-class career, spanning domestic sides like Speen Ghar Region, Amo Sharks, and Mah-e-Par Stars, is highlighted by 9 five-wicket hauls and a stunning career-best spell of 8/13.

On the national stage, Ahmadzai continued to prove his mettle across multiple multi-day and limited-overs campaigns. Beyond his milestone Test debut in 2018, he played pivotal roles in Test fixtures against Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh, routinely providing crucial early breakthroughs with the brand-new red ball. He also represented Afghanistan in One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, while expanding his domestic experience overseas by playing first-class cricket in Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for Habib Bank Limited.

Through the 2025-26 domestic and international season, Ahmadzai maintained exemplary form in Afghanistan's premier Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament for Mah-e-Par Stars, spearheading their bowling attack with multiple five-wicket hauls. His sustained rhythm earned him continued international selections, including white-ball duties during Afghanistan’s 2026 tour of Ireland. As of October 2026, Ahmadzai remained a cornerstone of Afghanistan's Test match bowling attack, and was picked up for the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.