Afghanistan bowlers with best innings figures in Test cricket
What's the story
Veteran leg-spinner Rashid Khan, on January 6, became the first Afghanistan bowler to take multiple seven-wicket hauls (innings) in Test cricket. Rashid attained this feat as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe in the 2nd Test by 72 runs at Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club. The leg-spinner's 7/66 stopped Zimbabwe from chasing down 278. Have a look at the best innings figures for Afghanistan (one per bowler).
#1
Rashid Khan: 7/66 vs Zimbabwe, 2025
Rashid took four wickets in the first innings against Zimbabwe, finishing with figures worth 4/94 in 27.3 overs. Taking a seven-fer in the second, the Afghan leg-spinner was adjudged the Player of the Match. As mentioned, Rashid is now the only Afghanistan bowler with multiple seven-wicket hauls in an innings in the format.
#2
Amir Hamza: 6/75 vs Zimbabwe, 2021
Like Rashid, left-arm spinner Amir Hamza also owns a six-wicket haul in Test cricket. Hamza took 6/75 in the 2021 Abu Dhabi Test against Zimbabwe. He became the first-ever Afghan bowler to take more than five wickets in a Test innings. However, despite Hamza's exploits, Afghanistan lost the match by 10 wickets.
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Zia-ur-Rehman and Nijat Masood
Zia-ur-Rehman and Nijat Masood are the only other Afghanistan bowlers to have taken a five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Rehman took 5/64 against Ireland in Tolerance Oval last year, while Masood's 5/79 came against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2023.