A skiddy right-arm fast bowler, Izatullah Dalwatzai was still a teenager when he played his first ODI, against Kenya in Nairobi in 2010. He'd come into contention for national honours when he was Afghanistan's second-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers in 2009. He remained in the frame after his debut and played a useful role in Afghanistan's qualification for the 2012 World T20. His progress has been most marked in first-class cricket, with his 6 for 57 against Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup a particular highlight. His career suffered a setback in 2014, when he missed much of the year due to injury, but he returned to the squad ahead of the 2015 World Cup as a non-travelling reserve.
Liam Brickhill