Qais Ahmad

Qais Ahmad is a highly talented, 25-year-old right-arm leg-break bowler whose deceptive variations and sharp turn make him a lethal asset for red-ball cricket. Universally renowned as a premier globetrotter in franchise T20 leagues, Qais possesses a deep-lying passion for the longest format, relying on a brisk, skidding trajectory, a lethal googly, and a well-disguised flipper to dismantle batting orders. His first-class foundation is extraordinarily robust, yielding 105 wickets across 21 multi-day matches at an impressive average of 22.86. This includes a monumental, career-best match haul of 10/118 during his Test debut against Bangladesh in 2019, where his clutch performance spearheaded a historic victory for Afghanistan. His knack for thriving under immense pressure and turning games on their head makes him a premium option whenever conditions favor extraction of variable bounce and turn.

Following a period away from the five-day arena, Qais has earned a highly anticipated recall to the national Test squad for the prestigious standalone Test match against India in June 2026. With fellow wizard Rashid Khan being rested to manage his heavy red-ball workload, Qais's re-entry into the squad places him in a critical tactical role as a primary attacking spinner on the subcontinental surface at Mullanpur. Far from being a one-dimensional bowler, he also provides genuine utility as a fearless, right-handed lower-order batsman who can clear the ropes and play crucial counter-attacking cameos during a tail-end crisis. His extensive experience playing on diverse wickets around the world gives the captain an incredibly mature and adaptable option to complement the team's finger-spinning group. As Afghanistan aims to test India's elite batting lineup, Qais represents the x-factor wrist-spinning weapon tasked with unlocking stubborn partnerships and driving his team toward a historic result.