A green-eyed left-arm spinner from Afghanistan, Sharafuddin Ashraf first caught the public eye when the Afghanistan side that he was part of pulverized Australia in the 2014 U-19 World Cup.

With a limited crop of young cricketers in the nation, the young man was handed an international debut against Zimbabwe a few months after the World Cup. Upon touching the shores of the country, he took full advantage of the slower wickets and crushed the Zimbabwe A side with 6/29 in the practice match. He was subsequently picked for the ODIs and performed admirably as the Afghans drew the series.

His exemplary form continued as he picked up his first ever five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, with a peculiar knack for foxing top-order batsmen with the newer ball and exposing the middle-order to the wrath of the shiny new cherry. He was unlucky not be picked for the 2015 World Cup in Australia, despite commendable performances in international cricket.

Ashraf made a comeback into the national fold after nearly four years for the World Cup qualifiers in 2018. He hasn't quite managed to make a mark, picking only 2 wickets in five matches. However, he continues to be economical, which, although not sufficient to cement his place in the long run, is commendable and is a sign that wickets are around the corner.

If he can regain his mojo for taking wickets, Ashraf has the makings of a successful spinner at the international level. With age on his side, and with Afghanistan set to play their inaugural Test in mid-2018, Ashraf is set to be a vital cog in their setup.

By Rishi Roy
As of March 2018