In the do-or-die match against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore, Sediqullah Atal, Afghanistan’s teenage batting star, contributed a vital knock.
Atal entered the domestic scene at a young age, having been born on August 12, 2001. He made his T20 debut with the Kabul Eagles of the Shpageeza Cricket League on September 7, 2020. He previously scored 59 runs in two games while playing for Afghanistan in the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
He participated in the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament in October 2021, making his List A debut for Band-e-Amir Region. He secured a spot in Afghanistan’s ODI team for the 2021 series against Pakistan because to his steady performances in domestic cricket.
Nevertheless, the series was delayed because of the political turmoil in Afghanistan. The southpaw was once more included in the squad when the series was rescheduled as a Twenty20 International match in early 2023, and he made his T20I debut against Pakistan in March of that same year.
He was selected to play in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as a reserve in May 2024. During the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in October 2024, he made his breakthrough by scoring 368 runs at a strike rate of 145 and an average of 122.66 in five games. By helping Afghanistan A win their first championship, he was named Player of the Tournament.
His participation to the match versus Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was noteworthy. Even though Spencer Johnson eventually got rid of him, his 85-run knock helped to steady Afghanistan’s innings. Three sixes and six boundaries were threaded throughout his knock.
In spite of his outstanding exploits, Sediqullah Atal did not sell at the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
He was unable to get a contract with a basic payment of INR 75 lakh because teams preferred more seasoned foreign players. If he is selected by a team as an injured replacement, he still has an opportunity to play in the event. With nine ODIs, a Test, and nine T20Is played, Atal has already represented Afghanistan in all three forms.
India
