IPL 2024: GT’s Azmatullah Omarzai in red-hot form after stunning spell vs Ireland

Gujarat Titans’ all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai had a memorable outing during Afghanistan’s third and final T20I against Paul Stirling’s Ireland on Monday, March 18 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

He recorded the second-best bowling figures by an Afghan pacer in the history of T20Is. The speedster finished with a spell of 4-0-9-4. Karim Janat remains the only pacer from the country with a 5-wicket haul after he achieved the feat back in November 2019 against the West Indies in Lucknow.

As far as Omarzai is concerned, he was on top of his game as Afghanistan beat Ireland by 57 runs to claim the 3-match series 2-1.

He picked up the wickets of Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Mark Adair and Barry McCarthy as the hosts bowled their Irish opponents out for 98 in 17.2 overs while defending 155.

However, he failed with the bat as he scored 3 runs off 6 balls before Curtis Campher accounted for his wicket.

Gujarat Titans (GT), in the meantime, would be delighted with Omarzai’s form ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

The Titans bought Omarzai at his base price of INR 50 lakhs in the auction that took place last year.

‘IPL is a top league’

Earlier, Omarzai said that taking part in the IPL will help him prepare well for the T20 World Cup to be held in the West Indies and United States of America (USA).

"Certainly it (taking part in the IPL) will help me for the World Cup. IPL is a top league and all the big players of the world take part in the competition and all of them are very experienced so it will be good for me that I will have the experience for the World Cup," Omarzai had told Cricbuzz.

The Titans will play their first game against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.