Raees Ahmadzai
Encyclopedia
Raees Khan Ahmadzai is a former Afghan
cricket
er who represented the Afghanistan national cricket team until his retirement in May 2010. Ahmadzai is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off break
. He is also UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador.
, Logar Province, Afghanistan
. He is from the Kuchi tribe, along with former teammates Mohammad Nabi
and Dawlat Ahmadzai
. He is far from certain about his age. In an interview in Potchefstroom with Will Luke in April 2009, he said, "Talking to my mother, she works out my age by seeing who the president
was. Unofficially I'm nearly 25, give or take three years. Or four. I could be 21 or 28." Luke's own opinion, going by "Deep-set wrinkles and a calm demeanour", was twenty-eight. The general consensus from Cricinfo
and CricketArchive
is that he was born on 3 September 1984.
Ahmadzai spent much of his early years in refugee camp
s with his family, fleeing from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
and the subsequent Civil War that followed the Soviet withdrawal. Ahmadzai, like many of his fellow teammates learnt the game in neighbouring Pakistan
, in Ahmadzai's case in a Peshawar
schoolyard.
. Ahmadzai represented Afghanistan in the following tournament in 2006
. During the 2006 tournament, Ahmadzai captained
the side.
In 2007, Ahmadzai played two List-A matches for the Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
in Sri Lanka
, playing matches against Lankan Cricket Club
and the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
.
Ahmadzai was part of the rapidly-rising Afghan team that from 2008 to 2009 won the World Cricket League
Division Five
, Division Four
and Division Three
, thus promoting them to Division Two and allowing them to partake in the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
.
During the qualifier, Ahmadzai made his List-A debut for Afghanistan against Denmark. During the same tournament Afghanistan gained ODI status, with Ahmadzai making his One Day International debut against Scotland, where he scored 39 runs, helping Afghanistan to an 89 run victory.
Ahmadzai made his first class debut in the Intercontinental Cup against a Zimbabwe XI in which Afghanistan drew the match. Later, in November 2009 he was a member of Afghanistan's 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
winning squad.
Ahmadzai made his full Twenty20 International
debut against Ireland in the 2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka
. Later on in February 2010, Ahmadzai was a key member of Afghanistan's victorious 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
winning squad and was later named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
.
In April 2010, Ahmadzai was a key member of Afghanistan's 2010 ACC Trophy Elite
winning squad which defeated Nepal in the final, with Ahmadzai scoring 52 runs in Afghanistan's innings; earning him the man of the match award. Ahmadzai played in both of Afghanistan's matches in Group C of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. In their first match of the tournament he remained unbeaten
on 5 against India and against South Africa he was caught behind by Mark Boucher
off the bowling of Morne Morkel
. Afghanistan lost both matches and were eliminated from the tournament.
for the Afghanistan Cricket Board. He is also a representative of Afghanaid
.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who represented the Afghanistan national cricket team until his retirement in May 2010. Ahmadzai is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off break
Off break
Off break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is the attacking delivery of an off spin bowler. Off breaks are known as off spinners....
. He is also UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador.
Early and personal life
Ahmadzai was born in the village of AzraAzra District
Azra District is a district of Logar Province, Afghanistan. It is located in the eastern part of the district and is 140km from the capital Kabul. It was moved from Paktia Province....
, Logar Province, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He is from the Kuchi tribe, along with former teammates Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi Pashto:محمد نبي عيسی خېل is a right-handed batsman and off break bowler who plays for and captains Afghanistan...
and Dawlat Ahmadzai
Dawlat Ahmadzai
Dawlat Ahmadzai is a right-handed batsman and right arm fast-medium bowler who plays for Afghanistan.After the Afghan team secured One Day International status by securing a top-six finish at the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier in South Africa , on April 19, 2009 he took the first ever wicket for...
. He is far from certain about his age. In an interview in Potchefstroom with Will Luke in April 2009, he said, "Talking to my mother, she works out my age by seeing who the president
President of Afghanistan
Afghanistan has only been a republic between 1973 and 1992 and from 2001 onwards. Before 1973, it was a monarchy that was governed by a variety of kings, emirs or shahs...
was. Unofficially I'm nearly 25, give or take three years. Or four. I could be 21 or 28." Luke's own opinion, going by "Deep-set wrinkles and a calm demeanour", was twenty-eight. The general consensus from Cricinfo
Cricinfo
ESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
and CricketArchive
CricketArchive
CricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...
is that he was born on 3 September 1984.
Ahmadzai spent much of his early years in refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
s with his family, fleeing from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
and the subsequent Civil War that followed the Soviet withdrawal. Ahmadzai, like many of his fellow teammates learnt the game in neighbouring Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, in Ahmadzai's case in a Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
schoolyard.
Career
Ahmadzai made his debut for Afghanistan against Rahim Yar Khan in the 2002/3 Cornelius Trophy. Ahmadzai made his international debut for Afghanistan against Hong Kong in the 2004 ACC Trophy2004 ACC Trophy
The 2004 ACC Trophy was a cricket tournament in Malaysia, taking place between June 12 to June 24 in 2004. It gave Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket and also helps forms an essential part of regional rankings...
. Ahmadzai represented Afghanistan in the following tournament in 2006
2006 ACC Trophy
The 2006 ACC Trophy was a cricket tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taking place between 14 August and 26 August 2006. It gives Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket....
. During the 2006 tournament, Ahmadzai captained
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
the side.
In 2007, Ahmadzai played two List-A matches for the Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club
Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club are a first-class cricket team based in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Their home ground is De Zoysa Stadium.-Partnership records:* 1st - 171 BCMS Mendis & SK Silva * 2nd - 247 TM Dilshan & GG Ranga Yasalal...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, playing matches against Lankan Cricket Club
Lankan Cricket Club
Lankans Cricket Club is a first class cricket team in Canada.The Lankans Cricket Club have changed management, Indran Rajanathan the new director of the club, has put together a new committee to improve the management aspect of the club. The new management has also added a under 13, 15,17 as well...
and the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
Sri Lanka Army Sports Club is a first class cricket team in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan national cricket team member, Ajantha Mendis played for the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club while he was enlisted in the army....
.
Ahmadzai was part of the rapidly-rising Afghan team that from 2008 to 2009 won the World Cricket League
World Cricket League
The ICC World Cricket League is a series of international one-day cricket tournaments for national teams without Test status, administered by the International Cricket Council. All associate and affiliate members of the ICC are eligible to compete in the league system, which features a promotion...
Division Five
2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five
The 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Five is a cricket tournament that took place between 23 and 31 May 2008 in Jersey. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
, Division Four
2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Four
The 2008 ICC World Cricket League Division Four is a cricket tournament in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which took place between 4 and 11 October 2008 as a part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.-Teams:...
and Division Three
2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three
The 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Three was a cricket tournament that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina from January 24 to 31 2009. It formed part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
, thus promoting them to Division Two and allowing them to partake in the 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier
The 2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier was a cricket tournament that took place in April 2009 in South Africa. It was the final qualification tournament for the 2011 Cricket World Cup....
.
During the qualifier, Ahmadzai made his List-A debut for Afghanistan against Denmark. During the same tournament Afghanistan gained ODI status, with Ahmadzai making his One Day International debut against Scotland, where he scored 39 runs, helping Afghanistan to an 89 run victory.
Ahmadzai made his first class debut in the Intercontinental Cup against a Zimbabwe XI in which Afghanistan drew the match. Later, in November 2009 he was a member of Afghanistan's 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup
The 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup was played between 22–30 November 2009 in the United Arab Emirates.The twelve competing teams were: Afghanistan, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the UAE....
winning squad.
Ahmadzai made his full Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
debut against Ireland in the 2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka
2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka
2010 Quadrangular Twenty20 Series in Sri Lanka is a tournament of Twenty20 cricket matches that will be held in Sri Lanka from 1 February to 4 February 2010. The four participating teams are Afghanistan, Canada, Ireland and Sri Lanka A. The matches will be played in Colombo.-Squads:-Points...
. Later on in February 2010, Ahmadzai was a key member of Afghanistan's victorious 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier
The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier was played from February 9–13, 2010 in the United Arab Emirates and a part of ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier series...
winning squad and was later named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
2010 ICC World Twenty20
-------------------------------------------------Group A:---------Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:...
.
In April 2010, Ahmadzai was a key member of Afghanistan's 2010 ACC Trophy Elite
2010 ACC Trophy Elite
The 2010 ACC Trophy Elite was a cricket tournament in Kuwait, taking place between March 31 and April 9, 2010. It gives Associate and Affiliate members of the Asian Cricket Council experience of international one-day cricket and also helps forms an essential part of regional rankings...
winning squad which defeated Nepal in the final, with Ahmadzai scoring 52 runs in Afghanistan's innings; earning him the man of the match award. Ahmadzai played in both of Afghanistan's matches in Group C of the 2010 ICC World Twenty20. In their first match of the tournament he remained unbeaten
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
on 5 against India and against South Africa he was caught behind by Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher
Mark Verdon Boucher is a South African cricketer, who holds the record for the most Test dismissals by a wicket-keeper. He was educated at Selborne College and has represented Border, Africa XI, ICC World XI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, and...
off the bowling of Morne Morkel
Morne Morkel
Morné Morkel is a cricketer who plays Test and limited overs cricket for South Africa. He is a right-arm fast bowler with "genuine pace" according to former South African fast bowler Allan Donald, and a useful lower order left-handed batsman. Some believe he has the ability to become a genuine...
. Afghanistan lost both matches and were eliminated from the tournament.
Retirement
Shortly before Afghanistan's match against South Africa, Ahmadzai announced he would retire following the match. He stated his reason for retiring being "in order to focus on developing the younger generation of Afghan cricketers". Ahmadzai will now take up a coaching role with the national squad as well a chief selectorSelector (sport)
In many team sports, a selection panel consist of selectors who choose teams or individuals to represent a country or club in sporting competitions.Selectors tend to be past players....
for the Afghanistan Cricket Board. He is also a representative of Afghanaid
Afghanaid
Afghanaid is a secular British humanitarian-aid non-governmental charity. It originated with the Afghanistan Support Committee which was founded in London in 1981. Two years later, Afghanaid was set up as an independent charity to provide assistance to Afghans in hardship.- External links :* * *...
.
External links
- Raees Ahmadzai on CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
- Raees Ahmadzai on CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...