Youngest ODI Cricket debutants

The shorter format of the game has seen many a young star break into their national sides after some strong performances in the domestic cricket circuit and here we will look at the youngest ODI Cricket debutants. Perhaps the most well- known debutant in ODI cricket is India’s Sachin Tendulkar, a child prodigy who played against Pakistan in November 1989, aged just 16 years and 283 days. However, even at that age, Tendulkar comes in at number seven on the list of the youngest-ever debutants in ODI Cricket. 

Here is the list:

5. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) , 16 years 215 days.

Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, at the age of just 16 years and 215 days, played his first ODI match at Nairobi during the 4-nation Centenary Tournament. Pakistan went on to win the match by 4 wickets, chasing down Kenya’s total of 149 runs with over 9 overs to spare. Afridi conceded an economical 32 runs from his 10 overs, but did not get a chance to bat in the Pakistan innings.

It was during the next match however, also the second match of Afridi’s ODI career, that Afridi really came into his own, smashing his way to an incredible 37-ball century against Sri Lanka.  Afridi ended his innings at 102 runs off 40 balls, and hit an astonishing 11 sixes, and 6 fours during his blitzkrieg. The innings remained the fastest-ever century by a batsman in ODI Cricket for eighteen years, until New Zealand’s Corey Anderson bettered the record by one ball, scoring a century off just 36 balls against West Indies at Queenstown on New Years’ Day in 2014.

4. Aaqib Javed (Pakistan), 16 years 127 days

Another Pakistan player, Aaqib Javed, played his first game for Pakistan aged 16 years and 127 days. In the first match of the 1988-89 Benson & Hedges World Series Tournament at Adelaide, Aaqib Javed was brought on to bowl as the first change bowler for Pakistan after skipper Imran Khan and left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram. Javed started off well, dismissing West Indies’ batmsman Richie Richardson early for just 1 and ended with figures of 1-49 from his 9 overs. His efforts were not enough to secure a victory however, as Pakistan went on to lose the match by 89 runs, thanks to a brilliantly-crafted 107-ball 111 from West Indies’ opening batsman Desmond Haynes, who was named Man-of-the-Match for his efforts.

3. Nitish Kumar (Canada), 15 years 273 days

At 15 years and 273 days, Associate ICC Cricket nation Canada’s Nitish Kumar became the third youngest player to make his debut in ODI cricket, during a One-Day match against Afghanistan, at the age of 15 years and 273 days. Kumar, who was selected in the side as an off-break bowler, did not bowl in the match. Canada chased down Afghanistan’s total of 177 without too much effort, and finished the match with over 10 overs to spare. The win helped Canada level the two-match series at 1-1.?

2. Gurdeep Singh (Kenya), 15 years 258 days

During the ICC World Cricket League Championship match between Kenya and Afghanistan in October 2013, Kenya’s Gurdeep Singh, aged just 15 years and 258 days, opened the batting for Kenya. Kenya were bundled out for 93 and went on to lose the match by 7 wickets. Singh scored just 1 off 23 balls in his first and only ODI match for Kenya.

1. Hasan Raza (Pakistan), 14 years 233 days

Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, at the incredibly young age of 14 years and 233 days, became the youngest-ever player to feature in an international ODI match. In October 1996, Raza came into the Pakistan ODI side, and batted at the number eight position for Pakistan. He was run-out for 11, but Pakistan went on to win the match with 5 balls left, as they successfully chased down Zimbabwe’s total of 237 at the Bugti Stadium in Quetta. Raza is also the youngest-ever player to make his Test-match debut.