INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Afghanistan&s Fazalhaq Farooqi is currently the top wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024
With nine scalps from two games, Farooqi is leading the pack.If Farooqi keeps on the same path, he will join fellow Afghanistan cricketer
Mohammad Nabi as top wicket-taker at a T20 World Cup.Nabi scooped his accolade at the 2016 T20 World Cup.Twenty-three year old Farooqi, who
hails from Baghlan, has risen to relative fame over the past few years, after having played his debut T20I in March 2021 against Zimbabwe in
Abu Dhabi.Farooqi&s monumental achievements in the Uganda and New Zealand matches are however a new take on Afghanistan&s original
stance.For years, the team&s blueprint was Mujeeb Ur Rahman with the new ball, Mohammad Nabi after the powerplay, and Rashid Khan later on
This was especially applicable to T20s.The three played such a big role that Afghanistan became synonymous with spinners.Of late, though, it
is becoming more and more evident that Afghanistan are no longer just about their spinners.For the second successive match at T20 World Cup
2024, Afghanistan&s victory was set up by their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, and left-arm seamer Farooqi.In the first
match against Uganda, Gurbaz and Ibrahim added 154 in just 14.3 overs to help Afghanistan post 183 for 5
Later, Farooqi dismantled Uganda with a career-best 5 for 9.If one overlooked their performance by saying it came against an inexperienced
side in Uganda, the trio did a repeat against New Zealand on Friday evening.Apart from being playful, Farooqi is however, someone who is
extremely confident in his ability as a bowler.Talking about Farooqi&s bowling, skipper Rashid Khan said after Saturday&s match: &He is
giving us the base we want
Especially in T20s, the powerplay is very important
And the way Farooqi has bowled in the last two games is amazing
He is a very skilful bowler.&He still needs to improve a lot of things but once he understands how skillful he is, he is going to be very
dangerous in future.&Afghanistan&s next match will be against Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday, June 14.The match starts at 5pm Kabul time
and will be broadcast live on Ariana Television.Fans can however tune in at 4.30pm to watch the pre-match show. RELATED STORIESRashid
thanks fans at home for all their ‘support, love and prayers&Afghanistan shock New Zealand by 84 runs for first win in historyThe post
Afghanistan&s Farooqi leads T20 World Cup pack so far with most wickets first appeared on Ariana News.
