Tag: Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday issued an official clarification after Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdrew from the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11, just two days after being announced as the franchise’s direct signing.

The 24-year-old Afghan opener confirmed his unavailability through a message in Pashto, citing personal commitments and scheduling constraints following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

“After the World Cup, I won’t be available for the PSL this season due to my schedule,” Gurbaz said. “I will be focusing more on my foundation work in Afghanistan. Thank you for all the love and support.”

His sudden withdrawal prompted a detailed response from the 2017 PSL champions, who clarified that Gurbaz’s signing had been completed strictly in accordance with league regulations and after obtaining the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

“We would like to clarify to our valued and loyal fan base that the recent direct signing of Afghanistan cricketer Mr Rahmanullah Gurbaz was completed strictly after he received full NOC clearance from both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Afghanistan Cricket Board,” the franchise stated.

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Peshawar Zalmi emphasised that Gurbaz was selected purely on professional and cricketing grounds and was among the top options available on the official player list provided to franchises.

“At the time of selection, he was among the best available options on the official list provided, and his signing followed the prescribed process accordingly,” the statement added.

“This decision was taken purely on professional and cricketing grounds, in full compliance with PSL regulations, PCB guidelines and the established framework of the HBL PSL. No consideration beyond merit, team requirements and due process was involved.”

The franchise concluded by confirming that a replacement direct signing will be announced in due course.

Earlier, ahead of the historic PSL 11 players’ auction scheduled for February 11, Peshawar Zalmi had retained four players.

Babar Azam leads the list in the Platinum category with a retention fee of PKR 70 million, followed by Sufiyan Muqeem in Diamond (PKR 44.8 million), Abdul Samad in Gold (PKR 28 million) and Ali Raza in the Emerging category (PKR 19.6 million).

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Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, just days after being announced as a direct signing by Peshawar Zalmi.

The wicketkeeper batter from Afghanistan confirmed the development via video message posted on Instagram.

Speaking in his native Pashto, he cited scheduling commitments following the T20 World Cup and personal responsibilities at home as the reasons behind his unavailability.

“After the World Cup, I won’t be available for the PSL this season due to my schedule,” Gurbaz said. “I will be focusing more on my foundation work in Afghanistan. Thank you for all the love and support.”

The 2017 PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi had officially announced the signing of the Afghan batter on 5 February, sharing a graphic of Gurbaz in traditional attire against a mountainous backdrop on their social media platforms. The franchise did not disclose the financial details of the deal.

However, the 22-year-old’s withdrawal means he will not feature in PSL 11, which is set to begin later this month.

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Since making his international debut in 2019, Gurbaz has established himself as a key figure in Afghanistan cricket. He has represented his country in two Tests, 52 One-Day Internationals and 83 T20 Internationals, earning a reputation as an aggressive opening batter.

Gurbaz is also a familiar name on the global franchise circuit, having played in major leagues including the Indian Premier League (IPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), SA20, and ILT20.

In the Pakistan Super League, Gurbaz has featured in three seasons, turning out for Multan Sultans in 2021 and Islamabad United in 2022 and 2023. Across 15 PSL matches, he has scored 318 runs at an average of 22.71, including one half-century.

His absence from PSL 11 leaves Peshawar Zalmi with a late decision to make as teams finalise their squads under the league’s new auction-based system.

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GUYANA: Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blistering knock, followed by a brilliant bowling performance helped Afghanistan register a stunning upset victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 at Providence Stadium here on Friday.

Set to chase 160, New Zealand bundled out for a meagre 75 in 15.2 overs, with only two batters reaching the double figures.

Fazalhaq Farooqi wreaked havoc with the new ball as he bowled Finn Allen on the first ball of the innings, followed by two more wickets in his next two overs to reduce the Kiwi side to 28-3 in 4.2 overs.

Skipper Rashid Khan replaced Farooqi and carried the momentum, dismissing his counterpart Kane Williamson. In his next over, Khan picked back-to-back wickets of Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell, further breaking the Kiwi’s back.

Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with a run-a-ball 18. Meanwhile, Matt Henry played a 12-run cameo before falling prey to Farooqi to finish the game.

Farooqi and Khan picked four wickets each, whereas Mohammad Nabi claimed two.

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Earlier, Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran gave Afghanistan a decent start after being invited to bat, scoring 44 runs in the powerplay. However, New Zealand bowlers slowed them down after the field restrictions were lifted.

Afghanistan managed 11 runs in the next overs before switching gears in the 11th over, which was bowled by Michael Bracewell. Gurbaz and Zadran collected 21 runs from this over, including three sixes.

Gurbaz attacked the bowlers, while Zadran played more of a supporting act before Matt Henry broke the 103-run opening pair in the 15th over.

Zadran departed after scoring 44 off 41 with the help of five boundaries, including two sixes.

Azmatullah Omarzai joined Gurbaz and scored a quick 22 off 13 with two sixes before Henry sent him back to the pavilion.

Gurbaz continued to attack before Trent Boult castled him in the final over after he scored 80 runs from 56 balls with the help of five boundaries and as many sixes.

Boult bowled a brilliant last over giving away only three runs and picked two wickets restricting Afghanistan to 159-6. He and Henry both claimed two wickets each while Lockie Ferguson managed one.

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored his sixth ODI century as Afghanistan eased to a 35-run win over Ireland in the opening match of the three-match series in Sharjah on Thursday. 

Put into bat, Afghanistan posted 310-5 in their 50 overs with Ibrahim Zadran making 60 in an opening partnership of 150 with Gurbaz who made 121.

Ireland slipped to 34-3 before Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker added 173 for the fourth wicket. Tector went on to make 138, his fifth ODI hundred, but as wickets fell at the other end, Ireland could only reach 275-8.

The night belonged to the 22-year-old Gurbaz, whose first ODI century came on debut against Ireland in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

He settled in quickly, striking eight fours and six sixes from his 117 balls. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Quentin de Kock have scored more men’s ODI hundreds before turning 23 than Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Down the order, Mohammad Nabi clubbed 40 from 27 balls before skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi helped himself to an unbeaten 50 from 33 balls as 95 runs, coming in the final 10 overs.

Theo van Woerkom was the pick of the Irish bowlers taking 3-55 from his 10 overs, including both openers, a lovely arm ball accounting for Gurbaz.

Ireland’s reply was quickly in trouble as captain Paul Stirling feathered a ball from Azmatullah Omarzai to the wicketkeeper.

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He was quickly followed by Andy Balbirnie and Curtis Campher who were both bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi to leave Ireland on 34-3 at the start of the eleventh over.

That brought together Tector and Tucker who gave Ireland real hopes of a surprise win.

Tector was outstanding, lacing the ball through the covers and nullifying the spinners although he survived a chance on 79 when Gulbadin Naib dropped a sharp return catch.

His 100 came from 117 balls and, in spite of feeling a bit of cramp and seeing his partners depart at the other end, continued on to 138 before a tired shot in the last over saw his end.

Tucker also enjoyed himself, going to his 50 with a mighty six off Noor Ahmed which flew out of the ground and landed in the road outside, much to the bemusement of a passing pedestrian.

His 85 came off 76 balls, the last of which found the edge to give Farooqi his third wicket. He would finish with 4-51 while 16-year-old debutant Allah Ghazanfar took 0-34 from his six overs.

Tector and Tucker were the only Irish batsmen to reach double figures and once Tucker was gone the innings subsided.

The match, however, sets up Saturday’s second match in the three-game series.

Afghanistan and Ireland will also play three T20Is as part of the build-up for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA which starts in June.

Ireland won the one-off Test last week, their first ever in the longest format of the game.

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SHARJAH: Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s quickfire century, followed by a tight bowling display propelled Afghanistan to thump the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the first T20I here on Friday.

Put into bat first, Afghanistan piled up a massive total of 203/3 in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a huge second-wicket partnership between Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran.

The touring side, however, got off to a dismal start to their innings as they lost their returning opener Hazratullah Zazai in the fourth over with 31 runs on the board.

The left-handed opener, known for his aggressive batting approach, failed to live up to the expectations and could score a mere 13 off 16 deliveries with the help of one boundary and a six.

Skipper Zadran then joined Gurbaz in the middle and anchored the innings with a well-crafted partnership.

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The duo launched a baton charge on the UAE bowlers and added 137 runs in just 77 deliveries before Rahmanullah Gurbaz perished in the 17th over.

He remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan with a 52-ball 100 which featured seven boundaries and as many sixes.

Zadran, on the other hand, stood his ground firm before finally perishing on the penultimate delivery of the innings.

He scored an anchoring 59 in 43 deliveries, laced up with four boundaries and two sixes.

All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai added valuable runs at the backend with his 19-run cameo which came off just eight deliveries and was peppered with two boundaries and a six.

For UAE, Aayan Afzal Khan, Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah managed to pick up a wicket apiece.

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Chasing a mammoth 204, the UAE could only score 131 runs in response and thus succumbed to a hammering defeat in the series opener.

The home side had a disastrous start to the run chase as they were reduced to 56/4 in 10 overs, forcing them to sport a defensive approach.

Vriitya Aravind offered some resistance with his half-century but his cautious knock was not enough to sail his side over the line.

He top-scored for the UAE with a 64-ball 70 which included seven boundaries and a six.

Fazalhaq Farooqi led the bowling attack for Afghanistan in the first T20I against the UAE with 2/19 while Naveen-ul-Haq and Qais Ahmed made one scalp each.

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz called Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah “a close friend” after the duo was involved in a heated exchange during the first game of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) between Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers.

Naseem Shah picked the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz after being hit for six and gave the Afghan batter an aggressive sendoff. Gurbaz walked to the pavilion without giving any response to the bowler.

However, despite the heated altercation with Naseem Shah, Gurbaz called him ‘a close friend’.

“Naseem Shah is a close friend, we have known each other for a long time as we both belong to the Pashtun community so it’s nothing like that,” he said.

“These things are part of the game; if you hit a six against a bowler and he gets you out, he might give a reaction, but people take things out of proportion.”

The situation between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Naseem Shah escalated quickly as fans took things out of proportion on social media creating a buzz.

“We have a very good relationship between us, it is just a healthy banter. Sometimes I hit him, sometimes he gets me out,” Gurbaz shared.

He also praised Naseem Shah highly as a bowler, “Naseem is a very good bowler, there is no doubt about his skills, and he will get better with time.”

Naseem Shah also echoed the same sentiments as they met after the game and engaged in a friendly conversation.

“Gurbaz is a good friend of mine. We had a friendly banter and challenged each other just as friends would. He hit me a six, and subsequently, I told him that I took his wicket for that six. I was also smiling during the banter,” he said.

He also stressed that people like to hyperbolize things in the social media era, “However, as we all know, these are social media times – people exaggerate and make things up in whatever way they want. But this is what happens in cricket. We both met afterwards pleasantly, talked to each other, and we are good friends,”

“Things look different on TV when you get closer to each other. So it was more like you are playing single wicket with friends. There’s no such concept of friendship in cricket; however, both of us are good friends.” he further added.

Naseem Shah is representing Colombo Strikers, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz is playing for Jaffna Kings in the LPL. Naseem Shah is the joint-leading wicket-taker with eight wickets and Rahmanullah Gurbaz has scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 132.32.

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Afghanistan’s hard-hitting opener batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz spoke highly of Pakistan’s all-format captain and star batter Babar Azam, calling him a legend of the game right now.

Gurbaz, who is currently representing Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), stated that Babar is beloved by most of the young fans around the world and he, himself likes the way he bats before terming Pakistan captain a legend.

“Babar is the favourite player of most of the young fans, even for me. I like the way he bats, everyone likes his way of batting, and I can say he is a legend right now,” said Gurbaz.

Gurbaz’s remarks about Babar Azam came after their sides, Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers respectively, came face to face in the 13th fixture of the LPL 2023.

Notably, Babar Azam is currently the leading run-scorer of the ongoing edition of the Sri Lankan league with 235 runs in five matches including a century.

Gurbaz also mentioned that his younger brother Masood Gurbaz, an emerging wicketkeeper batter, is a huge fan of Babar Azam and has asked him to bring his shirt.

“He loves Babar so much, and he tries to bat the way Babar does,” revealed Gurbaz.

“He asked me to bring one shirt from Babar,” he added.

Notably, Masood, in an interview in Kabul revealed Babar Azam as his favourite cricketer.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is also part of the Afghanistan squad to face Pakistan in the ODI series in Sri Lanka later this month.

Talking about the series, Gurbaz said: “The series against Pakistan is in ODI format, which is a whole different situation, I try my best to be aggressive wherever I play but it all comes down to the situation and team requirement.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are scheduled to play the first bilateral ODI series against each other.

Prior to that, they faced each other four times in international tournaments — Asia Cup and World Cup — with Pakistan emerging triumphant each time.

The three-match ODI series is scheduled to be played on August 22, 24 and 26. The first two games will take place at Hambantota, while the third game will be played in Colombo.

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KARACHI: Islamabad United batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has credited the useful tips shared by Babar Azam before the game for his sensational knock against Peshawar Zalmi on Thursday.

Aghanistan’s Gurbaz struck a quickfire half-century and bolstered Islamabad United to thrash Peshawar Zalmi by six wickets in the 12th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight.

He claimed that the pre-match chat with the Pakistan captain helped him a lot to change the way he used to bat.

“I changed one thing in my batting today. I also focused on some strike rotation. Before this, I just try to hit too hard but today my focus was also to play some good cricketing shots,” he said in a post-match press conference.

“I spoke to Babar before the match and asked about his mindset. He shared his experience with me and I applied that to my batting and it helped.”

“Earlier, I was just keen on hitting every ball but today I saw his (Babar’s) batting as well and observed how he rotates strike and hit boundaries,” he added.

The right-hander scored 62 in just 31 balls, smashing seven fours and four sixes, to put United in command before he was dismissed in the ninth over off Usman Qadir.

The 21-year-old also hailed the PSL for the quality it offers and claimed that he would share the experience with his teammates back home.

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