Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, along with Fazalhaq Farooqi, orchestrated Pakistan’s dramatic top-order collapse in the first ODI of their three-match series in Sri Lanka.
After Farooqi jolted Pakistan within the opening over of the contest, Rahman further piled on the pressure by removing rival skipper Babar Azam cheaply in the following over. By dismissing the Pakistani batting great, the ace spinner has now claimed a huge ODI record for himself.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman becomes first spinner to achieve this feat
In the first ODI against Pakistan, 22-year-old Mujeeb Ur Rahman was tasked to share the new ball with pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. The off-spinner struck in his opening over itself, as he trapped Pakistan’s batting might Babar Azam in front of stumps for a duck.
In doing so, the young Afghan cricketer has now become the first spinner in ODI history to dismiss Azam without a run to his name.
Babar Azam, who averages a staggering 58.49, was dismissed for a duck thrice in his ODI career prior to this game. However, he was removed by rival pacers on each of the three occasions, thus marking his recent failure his first-ever against a spin bowler.
In the meantime, Rahman also dismissed Mohammad Rizwan a while later to reduce Pakistan to 40-3. The two nations are currently engaged in a three-match ODI series, which serves a testing ground for both sides ahead of the Asia Cup 2023 in Sri Lanka and Pakistan next week.
The continental event itself will be followed by the much-awaited ODI 2023 World Cup in India.
