Shafiqullah Ghafari

Shafiqullah Ghafari is yet another star tweaker coming through the Afghan ranks.

The leg-spinner has already earned international recognition courtesy of his exploits at the ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa back in January 2020.

The Afghan sensation was the tournament’s second-leading wicket-taker bagging 16 wickets at 7, all with an economy of 2.45 per over. He opened his U19 campaign against the hosts (South Africa) by taking the best figures by an Afghan bowler in U19 Cricket World Cup history (6-15).

He would go on to impress throughout the tournament taking figures of 5-23 (v UAE), 0-36 (v Pakistan), 1-23 (v Australia), and 4-15 (v South Africa), finishing second to IPL star Ravi Bishnoi (with 17 wickets at 10.64).

The spinner has since played domestic cricket in Afghanistan, either side of COVID. In his 12 Band-e-Amir Region outings in the Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-Day Tournament, Ghafari has bagged 39 wickets at 26.66 and has also scored 293 runs at 18.31 with two half-centuries to evidence his all-round ability.

However, Ghafari has since emigrated on an Asylum Visa and has played two seasons with Richmondshire in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League. The tweaker excelled in 2022 taking 100 wickets at 15.39 across league and cup cricket, alongside 424 runs at 14.62. He then backed up with 99 wickets at 10.60 on his return in 2024, plus 630 runs at 26.25 including an 80-ball 109 for good measure.

Ghafari is, without doubt, one of the most talked about spinners in the North East and will look to continue his dominance for Richmondshire in 2025.