Hashmatullah Shahidi will be more than just the captain of the visiting cricket team when Afghanistan and India play a one-off Test on Saturday at Mullanpur.
Additionally, the 31-year-old would serve as the focal point of Afghanistan’s batting goals.
The soft-spoken left-hander will be responsible for demonstrating that Afghanistan’s red-ball ambitions are no longer reliant on a few big names in the absence of veterans Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
His father would have been proud of him in this role. Shahidi’s father, a physics instructor and author of several textbooks, places a high priority on education.
The Shahidis, like many Afghan families impacted by years of conflict and political unrest, lived in Pakistan for a while before returning home, and for a young boy growing up in an uncertain environment, cricket was hardly the most secure professional route. But the teacher’s son rose through the ranks to become one of Afghanistan’s most influential cricket thinkers.
If Rashid is the team’s worldwide star, Shahidi is the one tasked with leading it. Therefore, the significance of the Test against India goes beyond the outcome.
Afghanistan lost 20 wickets in just two sessions during their first Test match against India in Bengaluru in 2018. Shahidi made his debut in that match. Eight years later, their leader is at the center of their team’s quest for legitimacy in the longest format.
Shahidi’s talents stem from patience and discipline, in contrast to many contemporary batters whose reputations are based on daring strokeplay. In a time where instant effect is increasingly valued, he is an outdated accumulator.
That attribute is crucial for Afghanistan. For a country that has only participated in a small number of matches since joining the format, Test cricket is still unfamiliar. Shahidi is only 11 Tests old.
Whether it’s from Rashid’s wrist spin or the aggressive batting of younger players, the team has frequently depended on flashes of individual brilliance. Shahidi provides stability, which is something unique.
His prominence is demonstrated by his numbers. When he scored an undefeated 200 against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi in 2021, he became the first Afghan hitter to reach a Test double hundred. Later on, he surpassed that effort with an incredible 246, the greatest score an Afghan hitter has ever scored in a Test match.
A attitude uncommon in Afghanistan’s cricket ecosystem was displayed during those innings. Although the nation has consistently produced offensive bowlers and stroke-makers with natural talent, Shahidi’s best quality is his readiness to put up with the rigors of Test cricket. His leadership style has also been influenced by that trait.
Leading Afghanistan is not like leading many other international teams. The team includes players that are well respected in franchise leagues and have emerged as worldwide T20 stars. It takes a particular set of skills to manage those personalities while creating a cohesive red-ball culture.
Shahidi has mostly accomplished it by exercising calm authority. Unlike many contemporary captains, he does not have an outwardly forceful leadership style. His teammates often characterize him as calm and personable, traits that have grown more crucial as Afghanistan navigates a moment of transformation.
His importance is only increased by Rashid and Nabi’s absence. The two veterans—Rashid in terms of experience—have served as the cornerstones of Afghan cricket for the most of the past ten years. Nabi’s experience and Rashid’s international prominence frequently lessened the load on the captain.
Shahidi won’t have such luxury when playing India. Afghanistan will need to be disciplined, patient, and resilient in order to compete over five days. Players must be prepared to bat for extended periods of time, withstand pressure, and look beyond the next session. Shahidi becomes even more significant in this situation.
Afghanistan’s skipper embodies the ideals of the format as they pursue a long-term position in the Test hierarchy. It’s unclear if Afghanistan can compete with India over the course of five days. However, Shahidi’s contribution goes beyond runs and tactical choices as they begin yet another important phase of their red-ball odyssey.
The son of a physics teacher now bears the burden of the longest-format aspirations of a cricketing nation.
