Sharjah, November 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Afghanistan’s young spinner Naseer Khan Maroofkhil made an impressive Test debut, claiming seven wickets in the first innings of the second Test against Zimbabwe at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The 20-year-old left-arm finger spinner returned figures of 7-151 in 44 overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 339 in 114.5 overs. Brendan Taylor scored 119, while Innocent Kaia contributed 96.
Naseer’s seven-wicket haul is now the joint-best by an Afghanistan bowler on Test debut in an innings. He shares the record with fast bowler Ziaur Rahman, who also claimed seven wickets on his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare last year.
Naseer took four wickets for 118 runs on the opening day before adding three more on the second day. His first-day dismissals included Kaia, Ben Curran, captain Brian Bennett and Wessly Madhevere, as Zimbabwe ended the day at 250/5.
Zimbabwe had been comfortably placed at 200/1 before Naseer triggered a collapse, taking three wickets in the next eight overs as the visitors lost three wickets for just 12 runs.
Taylor, who resumed the second day on 96, completed his century before being dismissed leg-before-wicket by Naseer for 119. The spinner then removed Graeme Cremer and Vincent Masekesa off successive deliveries shortly after lunch.
Zimbabwe’s lower order offered some resistance, with Cremer and his batting partner adding 21 runs for the eighth wicket, while Blessing Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava added 27 for the final wicket.
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