Zazai blitzes 12-ball 50 to equal ‘idol’ and rival Gayle

Zazai blitzes 12-ball 50 to equal ‘idol’ and rival Gayle

Hazratullah Zazai of Kabul Zwanan equalled Chris Gayle's record by scoring 50 runs in 12 balls.

Hazratullah Zazai equalled Chris Gayle’s record while playing in the Afghanistan Premier League. (AFP pic)
SHARJAH:
Hazratullah Zazai smashed a blistering half-century off just 12 balls in the Afghanistan Premier League on Sunday to equal the all-time T20 record held by his “idol” Chris Gayle and Yuvraj Singh.

The 20-year-old batsman blasted left-arm spinner Abdullah Mazari for six sixes in one over on his way to tying the mark for the fastest half-century in T20 cricket.

Gayle got a close-up look at Zazai’s big-hitting as the West Indian star was in the opposing Balkh Legends team.

“It was a surreal moment for me to perform in front of my idol,” said Zazai.

“I was trying to play my natural game and wasn’t thinking of outshining anybody.”

Left-hander Zazai, who has played for Afghanistan in both one-day and T20 internationals, was eventually out for a 17-ball 62 as his team Kabul Zwanan fell 21 runs short of a target of 245 against Balkh.

“It’s a very proud moment for me,” said Zazai. “It’s a very enjoyable moment for me that my name is now linked to so many big names of the game, the real legends.”

His record-equalling innings came just five days after he scored 124 against Nangarhar Leopards in the same competition.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.