In 2020, a young, virtually unknown fast bowler sat down for an interview with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and made a devastating admission. “I started playing cricket about a year ago, but due to severe economic and financial difficulties, I am struggling to move forward,” Mohammad Saleem Safi confessed. “However, I am still putting a lot of effort into my cricket. Cricket is very special to me.”
Fast-forward to the 2026 solitary Test match in New Chandigarh, and that raw, financially strained dreamer has etched his name permanently into cricket history. On a flat, unforgiving surface where a powerhouse Indian batting lineup amassed a colossal 564/8 before declaring, Saleem emerged as Afghanistan’s ultimate warrior.
OVERCOMING A TURBULENT START
Fighting through grueling conditions, the 23-year-old speedster tore through the hosts to finish with a sensational 6/140 across 27 overs—becoming the first Afghan pace bowler ever to claim a five-wicket haul (and a six-for) against India in Test history.
Saleem’s journey to this milestone required immense grit. Coming out of the Baghlan province, his career got off to a turbulent start; he went completely wicketless across his first four international appearances, including a heartbreaking injury-shortened Test debut against Sri Lanka. Yet, under the burning sun of Mullanpur, Saleem’s engine finally roared to life. Operating at high pace with the second new ball, he turned a one-sided batting parade into his own personal showcase.
A TECTONIC SHIFT IN AFGHAN CRICKET
This historic performance is no fluke; rather, it represents a broader evolution within the country’s cricketing landscape. Speaking to the Times of India, former Pakistan pacer Naved-ul-Hasan highlighted a tectonic shift towards fast bowling in Afghanistan, crediting the nation’s robust domestic structure and ever-improving infrastructure.
“The world has only seen mystery spinners coming out of Afghanistan, but now there is a massive shift,” Naved-ul-Hasan was quoted as saying.
“An annual fast-bowling talent hunt is being organised, and at the U-19 and A-team levels, there are many players in the pipeline.”
BREAKING THE INDIAN BLOCKADE
The groundwork for Saleem’s breakthrough was laid on Day 1 when he extracted prized wickets to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal and a dangerous Sai Sudharsan (81). But his crowning moment arrived during the opening hour of the second morning.
Indian captain Shubman Gill was batting on a masterclass 126 and threatened to bat Afghanistan completely out of the match alongside Rishabh Pant (81). Saleem broke the punishing 169-run stand with an absolute peach of a delivery. Pitching it perfectly on a full length on the off-stump channel, he drew Gill forward before generating just enough subtle outward movement to kiss the outside edge.
Shortly after, Saleem outsmarted Dhruv Jurel with a piece of tactical brilliance. Jurel had swiftly moved to 19 with crisp shots square of the wicket. Anticipating the trajectory on length, the Indian wicketkeeper offered a confident leave. To his shock, Saleem coaxed the ball to reverse violently back in, shattering the off-stump while Jurel stood frozen.
While spin partners Ziaur Rahman and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi managed only a solitary wicket apiece, Saleem kept charging in for long, exhausting spells. He capped off his historic performance by inducing an edge from debutant Manav Suthar to seal his five-wicket haul, before clean-bowling Mohammed Siraj (22) to complete the six-for.
As he fell to his knees to touch his forehead to the ground in an emotional celebration, Saleem Safi’s life came full circle. The boy who nearly abandoned the sport because he couldn’t afford to play had just walked off the field holding the match ball against the world’s most formidable batting lineup.
