Rahmanullah Gurbaz Sets Record As Fastest Afghan Batter To 1000 ODI Runs
Gurbaz has been in tremendous form recently (AP Photo)
Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has etched his name into cricket history books by becoming the fastest Afghanistan cricketer to score 1,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODI).
The young prodigy achieved this feat during Afghanistan's World Cup 2023 opener against Bangladesh on Saturday in Dharamsala.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored his 1000 ODI runs in 27 innings
With only 42 runs separating him from the milestone as he took the crease, Gurbaz displayed his signature mix of technique and aggression to complete the achievement. Since his ODI debut in 2021, he's demonstrated a staggering rise, hitting the 1,000-run milestone in an astonishing 27 innings, going past Rahmat Shah's previous national best of 31 innings.
Gurbaz joins an elite list of Afghan batters, becoming the 13th from his country to reach the 1,000-run club in ODI cricket. But what makes his journey even more noteworthy is his exceptional average of over 38 - the highest among Afghanistan players with 1,000 ODI runs. Furthermore, since his debut, no other Afghan cricketer has scored as many ODI runs as Gurbaz.
Furthermore, with this accomplishment, Gurbaz proudly stands alongside the veteran Mohammad Shahzad as only the second Afghan wicketkeeper-batter to reach the 1,000 ODI run landmark.
Reflecting on Gurbaz's remarkable journey thus far, one cannot forget his magnificent 151-run innings against Pakistan earlier this year. This knock not only marked his personal best but also positioned him as the second-fastest player worldwide to clinch five ODI centuries, achieved in just 23 innings. This places him in the company of global stars like Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq and South Africa's Quinton de Kock, who both reached the landmark in 19 innings.
Meanwhile, in today's ongoing clash in Dharamsala, Afghanistan are currently in trouble at 126/6 after 28 overs, following Bangladesh's decision to field first.