Fazalhaq Farooqi Leads Afghanistan's Bowling Charge at T20 World Cup

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan's bowling sensation, has emerged as a force to be reckoned with at the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite not playing a single match for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, Farooqi has made a remarkable impact, leading the bowling charts with 12 wickets in just 11.2 overs.

Farooqi's left-arm angle and ability to swing the ball both ways have proved lethal, particularly in the powerplay. Seven of his wickets have come in the first six overs, the most by any bowler in the tournament. His skill was evident in his two-wicket burst against PNG, where he dismissed both Lega Siaka and Sese Bau with deliveries that moved away and into the batsmen respectively.

Farooqi credits his success to his relentless pursuit of skill development. "I'm not someone big and tall and bowling very fast," he said. "I was going to learn to bowl swing and that now for me is simple."

Despite not playing in the IPL, Farooqi remained focused on improving his skills. He worked closely with Afghanistan's bowling coach, Hamid Hassan, and also sought guidance from Dwayne Bravo, who is serving as a bowling consultant for the team.

Farooqi's relationship with Bravo has been particularly influential. "DJ Bravo, I am with him from last four years," he said. "He just wants to give to us some tips for how we bowl in the death, how we bowl in the crucial situations. He is everyone's mentor."

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan praised Farooqi's impact, comparing him to the team's batting star, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. "Someone like Fazal, who is coming in and attacking each and every ball, that allows us to have a strong base as a bowling unit," Rashid said.

Jonathan Trott, Afghanistan's head coach, believes Farooqi has even more potential. "I still think with the amount of talent, I still think he can even bowl better," Trott said.

As Afghanistan prepares to face West Indies and enter the Super Eight, Farooqi is confident in his team's ability. "We now have found some confidence," he said. "Now everyone has belief in our skills… This is the first time we just qualify for the Super Eight and we are so happy."

Tags: #T20WorldCup, #Afghanistan, #FazalhaqFarooqi, #Bowling, #DwayneBravo