Afghanistan arrived at the Under-19 World Cup semi-final and played one of the beautiful matches ever. Showing a commendable batting display against India in a high-pressure knockout clash, Afghanistan posted 310 runs losing four wickets. Two young batters rose above the occasion, handling nerves hammered centuries to remember forever. Together, Uzairullah Niyazai and Faisal Shinozada made India’s powerful bowling attack look unusually toothless and formed a blistering 148 runs partnership. Their calm shot selection, strong running between the wickets, and refusal to panic under pressure turned a tense semi-final into a statement performance.
Uzairullah Niyazai: the calm architect of the innings
A right-handed batter and handy right-arm bowler, Uzairullah has been Afghanistan’s mainstay with the bat in this World Cup. He represents the Laghman Province cricket team and continues to show the temperament required for top-level cricket.
Eighteen-year-old Uzairullah Niyazai delivered a mature, technically sound century that anchored Afghanistan’s innings. He brought up his hundred in just 85 balls and finished unbeaten on 101 off 86 deliveries.
What stood out was his game awareness. Uzairullah waited patiently for loose deliveries, rotated strike efficiently, and held one end firm while partners played around him. His century came through brave running, completing a risky second run a moment that summed up his confidence.
Faisal Shinozada: the dependable anchor
Seventeen-year-old Faisal Shinozada, born in Kabul in 2008, has been one of Afghanistan’s most consistent performers in youth cricket. In the semi-final, he played the perfect supporting role to Uzairullah, anchoring the innings with authority.
Faisal scored a fluent 110 off 93 balls before being bowled by Deepesh Devendra. This was not a one-off performance , he had already registered a century in the knockout stage earlier in the tournament, underlining his ability to deliver when it matters most.
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The centuries from Uzairullah and Faisal did more than put Afghanistan in a commanding position. They offered reassurance to the Afghanistan Cricket Board and sparked optimism across the global cricketing community, including franchise scouts. As these two batters mature, their already impressive batting is expected to sharpen further.
