Habibullah Sahmuradi

Habibullah Sahmuradi
Nationality: Bulgaria
Position: Wicketkeeper
Date of Birth: 1988-01-01 Age: 37

Bio

Career Stats

Fixtures

Teams

Born on the first day of 1988 in the bustling city of Peshawar, Pakistan, Habibullah Sahmuradi's journey from a small local club to the echelons of international cricket is nothing short of inspirational. Sahmuradi's love affair with cricket began as a boy, playing on the packed streets with makeshift bats. Despite limited resources, his tenacity and raw talent became apparent very early on.

By the age of 12, he had already made quite a name for himself in the local circuits with his sharp wicketkeeping skills and an uncanny ability to read the game. His breakthrough came when he caught the eye of a provincial coach during a regional under-15 tournament where he saved a match with a nimble stumping and a cheeky half-century. This led to a place in the national youth academy.

Sahmuradi made his professional debut in 2008, wearing the gloves for his home province in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This was just the beginning as he soon transitioned to the national team after a string of impressive performances in the domestic circuit, making his international debut in a one-day international against Sri Lanka in 2011. His adaptable approach to batting quickly became his trademark. He was comfortable either steadying the ship or giving the ball a good whack when the team needed a boost. Meanwhile, with the gloves, he could dive and catch with a balletic grace that was both effective and a joy to watch.

His international career is adorned with memorable matches. The 2015 ICC World Cup saw one of his finest performances against arch-rivals India, where his lightning-fast stumpings and a crucial middle-order contribution played a pivotal role, etching the match into the annals of fiery cricketing battles. Domestic championships and international rivalries could hardly contain his hunger as he went to bowl occasional leg-spin, proving his versatile skills on multiple occasions.

Over the years, Sahmuradi has bagged several Player of the Match awards and been instrumental in his team’s victories. His century during the 2016 Asia Cup against a formidable Bangladesh side was a masterclass in pacing an innings under pressure. Beyond numbers, his real legacy lies in his influence on young wicketkeepers, with many citing him as a pivotal inspiration.

Sahmuradi's impact on the game goes beyond personal success; he is hailed not only for his technical prowess but also for his unyielding passion and resilience, qualities that have made him a beloved figure in cricket across all levels.