A second leg-spinner for Cosmic’s attack
Nangarhar Cosmic picked Shafiqullah Ghafari in the Silver category at the APL player draft in Dubai on 3 November 2026. The Silver category carries a reported salary of $20,000. He is one of five Silver picks in the Nangarhar squad, alongside Zahir Khan, Ismatullah Alam, Mohammad Yamin Ahmadzai and Amir Jangoo, and the pick gives Nangarhar a second front-line leg-spinner to go with Zahir Khan.
Ghafari is a bowling all-rounder: a right-hand batter who bowls right-arm leg-break, born on 8 October 2001. His name first travelled beyond Afghanistan at the Under-19 World Cup in 2020, where he took 16 wickets — a haul that marked him out as a wrist spinner worth following. Leg-spin is the hardest skill to play in T20, and a side that can bowl it from both ends has a real weapon.
For Cosmic, the pairing with Zahir Khan is the point. Ghafari’s right-arm leg-break turns the ball the other way from Zahir’s left-arm wrist spin, so Toby Radford can attack right-handers and left-handers with a different kind of spin in each over. With Shakib Al Hasan’s left-arm orthodox alongside them, Nangarhar’s spin group is the deepest in the league on paper.
APL 2026-27 in numbers
The season has not started, so Shafiqullah Ghafari has no APL 2026-27 runs, wickets or matches yet. His first numbers in this league will come after Nangarhar Cosmic’s opening match — the season’s first ball is on Sunday 27 December 2026. Until then, the table below is his career at a glance.
| Detail | Shafiqullah Ghafari |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 October 2001, Afghanistan |
| Role | Bowling all-rounder (leg-spin) |
| Batting | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling | Right-arm leg-break |
| Draft category | Silver — reported $20,000 |
| APL history | APL debut in 2026-27 |
Career facts are from the player’s verified profile record. No APL 2026-27 figures exist yet — the season starts on 27 December 2026.
Where Nangarhar stand
Nangarhar Cosmic’s bowling is built on spin variety: Shakib’s left-arm orthodox, Zahir’s left-arm wrist spin, and Ghafari’s right-arm leg-break, with Junaid Siddique’s pace and Aftab Alam’s seam up front. Captain Rahmat Shah leads the side, Toby Radford coaches it, and Mark Boucher mentors it.
Cosmic play eight league matches, two against each of the other four teams, with four playoff places on offer. The APL season opens on Sunday 27 December 2026 at 5:30 PM Afghanistan time, and the final is on Wednesday 20 January 2027. Ghafari’s 16 wickets at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup say the talent is real.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shafiqullah Ghafari’s role for Nangarhar Cosmic?
He is a bowling all-rounder — a right-arm leg-spinner who bats right-handed, picked in the Silver category.
How many wickets did Shafiqullah Ghafari take at the Under-19 World Cup?
16 wickets at the Under-19 World Cup in 2020, the performance that first marked him out as a wrist spinner to follow.
Has Shafiqullah Ghafari played in the APL before?
No. APL 2026-27 is his debut in the league; he was picked at the Dubai draft on 3 November 2026.
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