Nasir Jamal

One of the few young prodigies to have played 2 Youth World Cups, Nasir Jamal's eye-catching strokeplay was always going to be difficult to forget for any selector who had seen him.

Younger brother of Raees Ahmadzai, who was part of the Afghanistan side that lifted them from 5th division to the world stage, Jamal has portrayed himself as an attractive stroke-player, a useful part-time legspinner, and a terrific fielder. However, he has struggled to cement his spot in the side as an indispensable asset and has worked more as a utility, "jack of all trades", kind of player.

After leading the team in his second Youth World Cup, Jamal made his ODI debut for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe in July 2014 and has since played some crucial knocks in the middle-order, such as his 52 not out against Scotland on January 8, 2015, which won the match for Afghanistan and showcased his composure under pressure and his stroke-making abilities.

However, with a knack for throwing it away once set and not making his starts count, the selectors have maintained faith in Jamal and he would like to make those opportunities count on the big stage. Nevertheless, with age on his side, Jamal is likely to have enough opportunities to prove his mettle at the highest level.

By Rishi Roy

As of March 2018