Blitzkrieg Knocks: 5 Fastest T20I Fifties By Afghanistan Batters Ft. Mohammad Nabi

Jatin

Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai [Source: @ACBofficials, @AkhandSharma9/x.com]Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai [Source: @ACBofficials, @AkhandSharma9/x.com]

Afghanistan cricket has never been short on firepower but every now and then, one of their batters goes completely berserk and sets the stage on fire. Be it bailing the team out of trouble or finishing games with a flourish, these knocks have had one thing in common: they came at breakneck speed and left the opposition gasping for air.

With Mohammad Nabi recently matching Azmatullah Omarzai’s record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Afghan, it is time to take a look at the five fastest fifties by Afghanistan batters in T20Is.

5. Karim Janat: 21 Balls

Back in February 2023 at Abu Dhabi, Karim Janat turned a tricky chase into a walk in the park against United Arab Emirates. Afghanistan were hunting down 164 when Janat walked in at 86/4. He wasted no time in laying down the law, muscling the ball to all parts of the ground.

His 21-ball fifty lit up the desert night as he cracked four fours and five sixes. Janat stayed unbeaten on 56 from just 22 deliveries at a stunning strike rate of 254.54, sealing a six-wicket win with five balls to spare.

4. Gulbadin Naib: 21 Balls

In January 2024 at Bengaluru, Gulbadin Naib played the knock of his life against India in a match that ended up having not one but two Super Overs. Afghanistan were staring down the barrel while chasing 213 but Naib swung like there was no tomorrow.

He smashed a whirlwind fifty off just 21 balls and finished unbeaten on 55 from 23. That blitz helped Afghanistan tie the scores and force a Super Over out of nowhere. The Indians eventually sneaked home but Naib’s knock was the spark that lit that rollercoaster night at the Chinnaswamy.

3. Mohammad Nabi: 21 Balls

Wind the clock back to Greater Noida in March 2017 and you will find Mohammad Nabi in full beast mode against Ireland. It was one of those days when every ball he touched seemed destined for the stands. He blasted a half-century in just 21 balls and simply refused to lift his foot off the pedal.

Nabi ended up hammering 89 off 30 balls, peppering the fence with nine sixes and six fours at a strike rate touching 297. Afghanistan piled up 233/8 and Ireland fell short despite a brave chase. That knock was pure carnage laden with clean swings, zero nerves and maximum destruction.

2. Mohammad Nabi: 20 Balls

Coming to Afghanistan’s do-or-die clash against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 and Nabi was at it again, this time against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan were crawling at 137/7 when Nabi decided enough was enough. The 20th over turned into his playground as he launched five colossal sixes off Dunith Wellalage.

He got to his fifty in just 20 balls which included 5 sixes off the last over and ended with 60 off 22 at a strike rate of 272.72. Afghanistan rocketed to 169/8 from nowhere. Sri Lanka chased it down eventually but Nabi’s final-over fireworks lit up the Sheikh Zayed Stadium like Diwali.

1. Azmatullah Omarzai: 20 Balls

The only man to match Nabi’s record is Azmatullah Omarzai, who pulled off his own 20-ball fifty earlier in the same tournament at Abu Dhabi. Against Hong Kong on September 9, Omarzai walked in at 95/4 and completely flipped the innings on its head.

He tore into the bowling, belting two fours and five sixes to race to a 20-ball half-century. Omarzai eventually scored 53 from 21 balls at 252.38 as Afghanistan posted 188/6 and won by 94 runs. It was brute force wrapped in calmness.