Noorali Zadran, a prominent player in Afghanistan’s top-order batting lineup, has officially retired from international cricket as of Thursday, March 7th. His decision comes ahead of the ongoing first ODI against Ireland at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Zadran’s last appearance for Afghanistan was in the recent one-off Test against Ireland. Although he struggled in the first innings, scoring just 7 runs off 27 balls, he showcased resilience in the second innings, accumulating 32 runs off 72 balls with three boundaries. Despite his efforts, Afghanistan lost the match by 6 wickets, marking an unfortunate end to his career at the top order.

Noorali Zadran Retires from International Stage

Debuting in the one-off Test against Sri Lanka, Zadran, accompanied by his nephew Ibhrahim Zadran, has been a stalwart for Afghanistan in white-ball cricket. With 51 ODIs under his belt, he amassed 1216 runs at an average of approximately 25, including one century and seven half-centuries. Additionally, he represented Afghanistan in 22 T20Is, scoring 586 runs at a strike rate exceeding 100 and an average surpassing 26.

Zadran’s Test career comprises two matches, wherein he accumulated 117 runs at an average of about 30, with a highest score of 47. At the age of 35, he bids farewell to the sport, having been a part of significant victories for the Afghanistan team throughout his tenure.

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Notably, Zadran marked his debut for Afghanistan against Scotland in April 2009, scoring 45 runs as an opener. One of the highlights of his career was his half-century against India in the 2010 T20 World Cup.

As Zadran exits the international stage, the Afghanistan Cricket Team paid tribute to his contributions by offering him a guard of honor ahead of the first ODI against Ireland. The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed Zadran’s retirement and expressed gratitude for his service, sharing a heartfelt post commemorating his remarkable career.