Sediq Atal is all set for his maiden stint in ODIs when Afghanistan begin their campaign in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, starting Wednesday, November 6 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The 23-year-old Atal has been a rising star in Afghan cricket, having done well across all formats in domestic cricket.
In six T20Is thus far since his debut back in March 2023 against Pakistan, the left-handed batter has scored 72 runs at an average of 12 with a top score of 35. But it’s his brilliant form of late that has hogged the headlines of late. Atal finished as the top run-scorer after Afghanistan recently won the Men’s Emerging Asia Cup in Oman.
In five matches, Atal hammered 368 runs at an average of 122.66 and a strike-rate of 147.79. His top score of 95 not out came against Akbar Ali’s Bangladesh. He also got scores of 83 and 55 not out in the semi-finals and final against India and Sri Lanka respectively.
Sediq Atal hits seven sixes in 48-run over
Back in July 2023, Atal hogged the headlines after he smacked seven sixes in an over during a match in the Kabul Premier League. Playing for Shaheen Hunters, Atal took the attack to Amir Zazai, who finished with figures of 4-0-79-1 at an economy rate of 19.75. Zazai leaked 48 runs in that over as Atal scored an unbeaten 118 off 56 balls with seven fours and 10 sixes.
In 22 List A matches, Atal has racked up 642 runs at an average of 29.18 and a strike-rate of 74.56 with six fifties to his name.
The opening ODI between Hashmatullah Shahidi’s Afghanistan and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh will take place on Wednesday, November 6. The third and third ODI are scheduled to be staged on November 9 and 11 respectively.
