The rarest kind of bowler in the squad
Zahir Khan Pakteen, born in Kabul on 20 December 1998, is a left-hand batter and a left-arm wrist spinner — a chinaman bowler, which makes him one of the rarest kinds of bowler in world cricket. Nangarhar Cosmic picked him in the Silver category at the player draft in Dubai on 3 November 2026, alongside Ismatullah Alam, Mohammad Yamin Ahmadzai, Amir Jangoo and Shafiqullah Ghafari.
Wrist spin that turns the ball away from the right-hander is a scarce skill, and it is why franchises keep coming back to him: he signed with Rajasthan Royals for the 2018 Indian Premier League season, and he has played in the ILT20 for Dubai Capitals. A left-arm wrist spinner gives a captain a different angle through the middle overs, and in T20 that difference is often the wicket that breaks a partnership.
For Cosmic, he is the second front-line leg-spinner in the squad alongside Shafiqullah Ghafari, and the contrast between the two — Zahir’s left-arm wrist spin against Ghafari’s right-arm leg-break — gives Toby Radford two ways to attack the middle order. With Shakib Al Hasan’s left-arm orthodox also in the side, Nangarhar can bowl spin from both ends for long stretches.
APL 2026-27 in numbers
The season has not started, so Zahir Khan 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 | Zahir Khan |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 December 1998, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Role | Bowler (left-arm wrist spin) |
| Batting | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling | Left-arm wrist spin (chinaman) |
| Draft category | Silver |
| APL history | In the Nangarhar Cosmic squad for 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 attack is built around variety: Junaid Siddique’s pace, Aftab Alam’s seam, Shakib’s left-arm spin, and Zahir’s wrist spin. 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. Zahir’s wrist spin could be the surprise weapon of the season.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zahir Khan’s role for Nangarhar Cosmic?
He is a bowler — a left-arm wrist spinner, or chinaman bowler, taken in the Silver category at the Dubai draft.
What is chinaman bowling?
It is left-arm wrist spin: the ball turns away from the right-hand batter. It is one of the rarest bowling styles in cricket.
Which IPL team did Zahir Khan play for?
Rajasthan Royals, who signed him for the 2018 Indian Premier League season. He has also played in the ILT20 for Dubai Capitals.
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