Azmatullah Omarzai is an Afghan international cricketer who has established himself as an all-rounder in international cricket. Born in Nurgal, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, he developed his skills through the country's domestic and youth cricket systems before earning a place in the national side.
Omarzai began attracting attention through his performances in Afghanistan's regional competitions. He made his List A debut for Mis Ainak Region in August 2017 and represented Afghanistan at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. His progress at youth level helped him move into senior domestic cricket, where he developed into a right-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler.
He also featured in the inaugural Afghanistan Premier League in 2018 and continued to gain experience in domestic T20 competitions. His performances in the 2020 Shpageeza Cricket League, where he shared the Player of the Tournament award, further strengthened his reputation as a promising all-rounder.
Omarzai's international career began in 2021, when he made his ODI debut against Ireland. He subsequently made his T20 International debut against Bangladesh in March 2022. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball has since made him an important member of Afghanistan's squad across formats.
T20I Career
Azmatullah Omarzai made his T20 International debut for Afghanistan against Bangladesh on 3 March 2022. He gradually developed his role in the national side, offering a combination of middle-order batting and fast-medium bowling.
Omarzai was part of Afghanistan's campaign at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where the team reached the semi-finals for the first time. His contributions with bat and ball supported Afghanistan's progress through the tournament and highlighted the depth of its all-round options.
His experience in franchise T20 leagues has also helped him adapt to different conditions and match situations. Omarzai has represented teams in competitions including the Pakistan Super League, Bangladesh Premier League and various other franchise tournaments.
He continued to feature in Afghanistan's T20I setup as the team prepared for major international competitions, bringing pace-bowling options and batting depth to the side.
ODI Career
Omarzai made his One Day International debut against Ireland on 21 January 2021. He developed into a regular member of Afghanistan's ODI side through his contributions in both departments.
The 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup marked an important stage in his career. Omarzai contributed with the bat throughout the tournament and scored an unbeaten 97 against South Africa, nearly guiding Afghanistan to a successful chase. His performances demonstrated his ability to handle pressure against established international teams.
In January 2024, he scored an unbeaten 149 against Sri Lanka in an ODI, producing one of the most significant innings of his career. The performance highlighted his capacity to build a substantial innings while maintaining an attacking approach.
Omarzai continued his development during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. He claimed a five-wicket haul against England and contributed with the bat during Afghanistan's campaign. His performances helped him reach the top of the ICC Men's ODI all-rounder rankings in March 2025.
In January 2025, Omarzai was named the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year for his performances during 2024. The award represented a major milestone for Afghanistan cricket and recognised his impact as an international all-rounder.
Test Career
Omarzai made his Test debut for Afghanistan against Zimbabwe on 26 December 2024. His introduction to the longest format added another dimension to his international career after establishing himself in ODI and T20I cricket.
As a pace-bowling all-rounder, he offers Afghanistan an additional seam-bowling option alongside his ability to contribute in the middle order. Test cricket presents a different challenge from limited-overs formats, requiring sustained concentration with the bat and consistency with the ball.
Omarzai's experience in international white-ball cricket and domestic competitions provides a foundation for his development in Test cricket. He will look to gain further opportunities and establish a more prominent role in Afghanistan's red-ball plans.
Domestic Career
Omarzai began his senior domestic career in Afghanistan's regional competitions. He made his List A debut for Mis Ainak Region in the 2017 Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One-Day Tournament and his first-class debut in March 2018.
His progress through the domestic system included appearances for regional teams and Afghanistan's youth sides. He subsequently featured in franchise competitions, including the Afghanistan Premier League and Shpageeza Cricket League.
His performances in the 2020 Shpageeza Cricket League earned him the joint Player of the Tournament award. The recognition helped strengthen his position as one of Afghanistan's emerging all-rounders and opened further opportunities in domestic and international cricket.
Omarzai has since represented a range of franchise teams across several countries, gaining experience in different formats and playing conditions. These competitions have contributed to his development as a versatile player capable of influencing matches with both bat and ball.
IPL Career
Azmatullah Omarzai made his Indian Premier League debut for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians on 24 March 2024. The franchise signed him ahead of the 2024 season, giving him an opportunity to compete in one of the world's leading T20 leagues.
He joined Punjab Kings ahead of the 2025 season after being acquired at the IPL auction. The move provided another opportunity to contribute as a pace-bowling all-rounder in the competition.
Omarzai's role in the IPL combines lower-middle-order batting with right-arm fast-medium bowling. His international experience with Afghanistan and performances in other franchise leagues have helped him adapt to the demands of the tournament.
His participation in the IPL has also given him opportunities to work alongside established international players and gain experience in different match conditions.