INTERNATIONAL — March 29, 2026
Afghan All-Rounder Azmatullah Omarzai Retained by Punjab Kings for IPL 2026
Azmatullah Omarzai has been retained by Punjab Kings for IPL 2026 after a strong showing in prior seasons, joining fellow Afghans Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad Laknwal and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar in the tournament. The season, with 10 teams competing in 84 matches, runs from March 28 to May 31.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
KOLKATA, India (Afghan Verified) -- Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan's prominent fast all-rounder, has been retained by Punjab Kings for the Indian Premier League 2026 season following his selection in the previous year's auction.
Omarzai debuted in one-day internationals in January 2021 and in Twenty20 internationals about a year later. In 2023, he claimed 15 wickets in a Bangladesh league and performed for Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan's league. During the ODI World Cup that year, he scored 62 runs against India, a half-century against Sri Lanka and 97 against South Africa, amassing 455 runs at an average of 57.
He played for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. In 2024, Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, where Omarzai scored 417 runs at an average of 52.12 and took 17 wickets at an economy rate below 5. He was named the ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year for his performances that year.
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, Omarzai took five wickets against England. He was picked by Punjab Kings for IPL 2025.
Three other Afghan players are featuring in IPL 2026: Rashid Khan with Gujarat Titans, Noor Ahmad Laknwal with Chennai Super Kings and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar with Mumbai Indians.
The IPL 2026 season, featuring 10 teams in a single group format, runs from March 28 to May 31 and includes 84 matches.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
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Single source provides direct, concrete, checkable details on public sports events (IPL player selections, retentions, performance stats, tournament details), verifiable via official IPL records and cricket databases.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "one of the most important stars" - superlative praise elevating the player's status; "golden year" - emotional framing of exceptional success; "historic performance" and "historic honor" - advocacy phrasing emphasizing unprecedented achievements for Afghanistan.
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