Mohammad Saleem

Mohammad Saleem Safi is a right-arm fast bowler from Kabul who has caught the eye with his brisk pace and natural ability to swing the ball. Born in September 2002, he rose quickly through the cricketing ranks and became a genuine wicket-taking option for his captains, standing out in a country traditionally famous for producing world-class spin bowlers.

Safi made his first-class debut in early 2019 for Kunduz Province and transitioned swiftly into the List A and T20 formats. His impressive spells for Amo Region and Boost Defenders in the Shpageeza Cricket League put him firmly on the national radar, consistently beating batters with his sheer pace and earning a reputation as one of the more exciting young seamers in Afghan domestic cricket. The national selectors noticed his raw talent early, naming him in the Test squad against Zimbabwe in 2021 and as a reserve player for important series against Pakistan and the Netherlands. His persistence was richly rewarded when he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in July 2023, performing with great discipline on the international stage.

Saleem continued to gain valuable exposure by making his T20 debut against India in January 2024. Shortly after, he earned his maiden Test cap against Sri Lanka in February 2024, demonstrating his capability to bowl long spells and adapt his skills across all three formats of the game. A groin injury disrupted his progress in late 2025, ruling him out of the ODI series against Bangladesh and sending him back to the ACB's High Performance Centre for rehabilitation. He recovered in time to be named in Afghanistan's squad for the one-off Test against India in June 2026.