Mujeeb makes history

16-year-old Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman became the youngest bowler to take a five-for in ODI history during his side's 10-wicket win in the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe in Sharjah yesterday. Photo: COLLECTED

Teenage Afghan spin sensation Mujeeb Ur Rahman scripted history on Friday by becoming the youngest ever player to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs.

At 16 years and 325 days, Mujeeb broke Pakistan legend Waqar Younis' record who took his first five-for at the age of 18 years and 164 days.

Mujeeb (5/50), who took his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, helped Afghanistan dismiss Zimbabwe for 134 in the 4th ODI of the five-match series in Sharjah.

The off-spinner shot to fame claiming four wickets on debut against Ireland in 2017.

He also fetched a hefty pay-check of Rs. 4 crore from Kings XI Punjab at the IPL auction last month and thus became the third Afghanistan player to be bought by an IPL franchise after Rashid Khan (Rs. 9 crore to Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Mohammad Nabi (Rs. 1 crore to SRH).

Mujeeb, who was also part of the Afghanistan squad at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, is also the first player born in the 21st century to play in the ODIs.

Born on 28 March 2001, Mujeeb took Afghanistan to their maiden U-19 Asia Cup victory, when the team beat Pakistan in the final. He took 20 wickets during the tournament, held in Kuala Lumpur, and continued to impress when he went on to claim 17 wickets against Bangladesh in a bilateral Youth ODI series.