Afghan umpire Farooq Khan Ahmadzai has reached international cricket for the first time, becoming the seventh Afghan official to stand as an umpire at international level.
Ahmadzai made his international umpiring debut during the opening T20I between Afghanistan and India in New Delhi.
The match scorecard lists Ahmadzai as one of the two on-field umpires alongside experienced Afghan official Ahmed Shah Pakteen, with Izatullah Safi serving as the television umpire.
The appointment represents a significant step in Ahmadzai’s career after years of officiating in Afghanistan’s domestic competitions.
Before reaching international level, Ahmadzai had built extensive experience across Afghanistan’s major domestic formats. According to figures reported by Ariana News, he has officiated in 38 first-class matches, 59 List A matches and 74 T20 matches.
His domestic record includes appointments in competitions such as the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Regional One Day Tournament and the Shpageeza Cricket League.
Ahmadzai had recently earned a place on the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s elite umpires list following a competitive selection process.
His international debut expands Afghanistan’s pool of officials with experience beyond the domestic game.
Among the Afghan umpires to have previously reached international cricket are Ahmed Shah Durrani, Ahmed Shah Pakteen and Izatullah Safi. Pakteen is among Afghanistan’s most experienced officials and has stood in international matches across multiple formats.
For Afghanistan cricket, Ahmadzai’s appointment represents progress beyond player development alone. Building a larger group of internationally experienced umpires is also important to the country’s representation within the wider professional structure of the sport.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board congratulated Ahmadzai on the milestone and wished him success as he begins the international stage of his umpiring career.
