Samiullah Shenwari plays the game with the energy typical of a 21st century cricketer. With a bouncing, high-kneed approach to the crease and a bagful of variations, his initial value to Afghanistan was as an enterprising legspinner but his batting has become increasingly useful. He pays precious little regard to the textbook, but Shenwari's good eye means that when he hacks violently at the ball, more often than not he connects and he's crept up from Afghanistan's lower order into their middle. He's also a capable fielder, and is often stationed at point. Shenwari helped to engineer Afghanistan's historic win over Bangladesh at the Asia Cup in March 2014, sharing in a 164-run stand with Asghar Stanikzai and then picking up the vital wicket of Mominul Haque. He has been part of all of Afghanistan's World T20 campaigns, and was shortlisted for the prize of ICC Associate and Affiliate player of the year in 2014. He was an automatic pick for the team that travelled to the 2015 World Cup.
Liam Brickhill