Five youngest players to take a five-wicket haul in the history of ODI cricket
When a bowler takes a five-wicket haul in a spell that can only go up to as many as ten overs, he has achieved something remarkable. However, if a bowler does that under 19 years of age, the feat is nothing short of extraordinary.
These are stories that transcend the boundaries of time and space, and stay with the audience for a long and enduring time frame.
Let's take a look at five of the youngest bowlers to claim a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
#5 Aftab Ahmed: 18 years 361 days
Bangladesh cricket has seen a lot of troubles and tribulation over the years but has also been responsible for unearthing some rare sporting talent in the same period. From time to time, they churn out diamonds from their cricketing mines and try to polish them to glory at the international level.
Aftab Ahmed was one such talent discovered by Bangladesh Cricket Board. The 32-year-old was drafted into the national side for the Champions Trophy in 2004. Though he was included in the playing XI for his thunderous batting, his first memorable performance for Bangladesh came with the ball.
In the second game of the ODI series between Bangladesh and New Zealand, the former capitulated to a total of just 146 in the first innings of the game. It looked like the impending chase would be a cakewalk for the mighty Kiwis batting line-up.
However, Ahmed had different plans. He scalped the wicket of the New Zealand opener, Nathan Astle, in the 20th over of the game. After that, he went on a rampage as he dismissed four more batsmen with his medium pace bowling and put the visitors in a serious spot of bother at 125 for the loss of six wickets.
It is worthy to be noted that the youngster sent Brendon McCullum back to the pavilion for a duck to complete his only five-wicket haul in international cricket. New Zealand managed to trudge to the score with 3 wickets remaining, but Ahmed was adjudged with the Player of the Match award for his terrific bowling display on the day.