Who is Karim Janat: Afghanistan's new bowling sensation
Afghanistan have risen to fame in world cricket, courtesy their fine performance over the past years, as a result, producing some incredible players. On Saturday, a new name emerged in the form of bowling all-rounder Karim Janat, who claimed a five-for, to help Afghanistan stay alive in the three-match T20I series. On the same note, we take a look at this young bowling sensation.
How did the match pan out?
Winning the toss, Afghan skipper Rashid Khan elected to bat first. However, they could only manage an average total of 147/7, while Hazratullah Zazai and Janat were the top scorers, of 26 each, with Windies's Kesrick Williams claiming 3/23. In reply, Windies could only manage 106/8, courtesy Janat's 5/11, while wicket-keeper batsman Denesh Ramdin remained unbeaten on 24.
Who is Karim Janat?
Janat hails from Kabul in Afghanistan. While he was a member of Afghanistan's U-19 squad during the 2016 World Cup, he made his First-Class debut with Speen Ghar Region against England Lions in December 2016. The same month, he also made his T20I debut against UAE, scoring 25 runs and claiming three wickets. Two months later, he made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe.
Janat has had an average career so far
Considering Janat's stats so far, he has had an average career. While he has only played an ODI so far, scoring nine runs, without claiming a wicket, his T20I performance has been moderate. In 20 T20Is, he has 143 runs at an average of 14.30. Furthermore, he has claimed 23 wickets at an average of 25.26, while last night's figures were his career-best.
Janat has been impressive in domestic cricket
Janat's domestic stint has been a decent one so far. During the 2017 Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament, he finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker, along with Zahir Khan. He was also the leading wicket-taker during the 2018 Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament for the Kabul Region, claiming 30 wickets in 10 matches.
Some records scripted during the match
As for some records from the match: This was Afghanistan's first T20I win in their last five matches against Windies. Janat has the best bowling figures for Afghanistan against Windies in T20Is, second-best across formats: 5/11 Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran scripted highest seventh-wicket stand for the side: 44 Afghanistan scripted their highest T20I total against Windies: 147
