Afghanistan · Bowler

Waqar Salamkheil Age, Test Record, ILT20 Award and CPL 2026

Waqar Salamkheil is an Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner who took four wickets on Test debut, later developed into a specialist franchise bowler and won the DP World ILT20 Season 4 White Belt. His Test best innings return was 2/35, while 4/101 is the combined match return from Afghanistan's maiden Test victory in 2019. He also produced 4/22 on his St Kitts & Nevis Patriots debut in 2025 and returned for the Patriots' 2026 CPL campaign.

By StumpScope Cricket Desk · Edited by StumpScope Editorial Team

Right-handedLeft-arm wrist spin bowlerBorn 2 October 2001

Official DP World ILT20 named Waqar Salamkheil profile and exact 600 by 600 Dubai Capitals portrait retained for editorial use ↗

Current squadSt Kitts & Nevis PatriotsCaribbean Premier League · Patriots' 2026 CPL campaign

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Full nameMohammad Waqar Salamkheil

Age24As of 16 August 2026

Date of birth2 October 2001Kabul, Afghanistan

Batting styleRight-handed

Bowling styleLeft-arm wrist spin

Career overview

Waqar Salamkheil cricket career

Born in Kabul on 2 October 2001; age 24 on 16 August 2026.

Right-handed tail-end batter and left-arm wrist-spin bowler.

Test debut: four wickets in Afghanistan's maiden Test victory in March 2019.

ILT20 Season 4: 18 wickets, three three-wicket hauls and the White Belt.

CPL 2025: 4/22 and Player of the Match on his Patriots debut.

Current 2026 team context includes St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and a future ILT20 Season 5 signing with Sharjah Warriorz.

Career story

Waqar Salamkheil career and playing journey

Who is Waqar Salamkheil?

Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil is an Afghan specialist bowler from Kabul. He bats right-handed and bowls left-arm wrist spin, using a wrist-spinner's angle and variation rather than left-arm orthodox finger spin. He made his only Test appearance to date as a teenager and has since built most of his senior career across domestic and franchise T20 competitions.

His record needs three separate frames. The 2019 Ireland Test establishes his international milestone, the dated career table covers long-term format totals, and league reports establish individual franchise seasons. Keeping those scopes apart prevents one Test, an ILT20 award and a CPL spell from being presented as if they came from the same competition.

How old is Waqar Salamkheil and what is his bowling style?

Salamkheil was 24 years old on 16 August 2026. He was born on 2 October 2001 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The date of birth is also carried by current cricket identity records, which distinguish him from players whose names contain Waqar but belong to different countries, teams or bowling roles.

He is a left-arm unorthodox wrist-spinner. The ball normally turns away from a right-handed batter, while changes of pace, trajectory and the wrong'un create the main variations. His batting record is that of a tail-ender, so the evidence supports a specialist-bowler classification rather than an all-rounder label.

What happened on Waqar Salamkheil's Test debut?

Salamkheil debuted against Ireland at Dehradun in March 2019, Afghanistan's second Test. Ireland recovered from 85/9 to 172 in the first innings, but Salamkheil removed George Dockrell and James Cameron-Dow. Afghanistan then built a first-innings lead before the match moved into a longer second-innings contest.

His best innings return was 2/35; 4/101 is the combined match return. That distinction matters because 2/35 describes his best figures in one innings, while 4/101 combines both Ireland innings. Afghanistan won by seven wickets, making the match the country's first Test victory.

Which wickets did Salamkheil take against Ireland?

In Ireland's first innings he dismissed George Dockrell and debutant James Cameron-Dow. In the second innings he removed Andrew Balbirnie and Stuart Thompson, completing four wickets across 31 overs in the match. His full Test line records 186 balls, 101 runs conceded, an average of 25.25 and no five-wicket innings.

Those four wickets are already included in his first-class career. They can be discussed separately because the match was historically important, but adding the Test row to the first-class row would count the same bowling twice.

Why was Afghanistan's 2019 Test win important?

Afghanistan defeated Ireland by seven wickets in only the country's second Test. The ICC described the result as a historic first win in the format, achieved after Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Yamin Ahmadzai and Salamkheil combined to control Ireland across the two innings.

Rahmat Shah was Player of the Match for two decisive batting contributions, so Salamkheil should not be credited with that award. His contribution was the four-wicket debut match return inside a collective bowling performance, an accurate distinction between an individual milestone and the official match award.

What do Waqar Salamkheil's first-class figures show?

The retained career snapshot through 23 March 2026 lists 12 first-class matches, 74 wickets at 24.48 and best innings figures of 7/53. It also records six five-wicket innings, one ten-wicket match, 110 runs and a batting high of 29. The Test match is nested within those first-class totals.

First-class and Test figures should therefore answer different questions. The Test row isolates one international match; the wider row includes Afghanistan's domestic multi-day cricket. Neither should be treated as a live total beyond its stated cutoff, particularly because Salamkheil's recent schedule has been dominated by short-format leagues.

How did Salamkheil emerge before franchise cricket?

A major early performance came in the 2017–18 Ahmad Shah Abdali tournament, when he took 6/56 in an innings and eight wickets in the match. Afghanistan's domestic structure gave him the longer spells required to develop control before his Test selection.

In 2020, the ICC included Salamkheil among 20 bowlers under the age of 21 to watch. The selection was a development assessment, not an international ranking or permanent award. His later franchise record supplies the stronger evidence of how that early wrist-spin promise translated into senior T20 roles.

What does Waqar Salamkheil's T20 record include?

The dated 23 March 2026 career row records 133 wickets from 101 senior T20 matches, with best figures of 4/14 and a bowling average of 21.52. That total spans domestic and franchise competitions; it is not a T20 international record, and his Test wickets do not belong in it.

Competition reports published after a career-table cutoff can describe later matches without silently rewriting the stored aggregate. The safe comparison is to use a named league, season and scorecard for each new claim, then refresh the complete career row when a current structured source supplies all matches through a clear date.

How did he make an immediate impact in CPL 2023?

Salamkheil took 4/14 for Trinbago Knight Riders against Barbados Royals in his first CPL season. The four wickets came in one innings and remained the best return in the dated T20 career snapshot. He finished the 2023 competition with 11 wickets from eight matches and an economy rate below seven runs per over.

That season established his Caribbean role as a middle-overs wicket-taker. It did not lock him to Trinbago permanently: franchise membership changes by season, while the 4/14 remains attached to the 2023 Knight Riders scorecard.

What was Salamkheil's CPL 2024 record?

Returning for Trinbago Knight Riders in 2024, Salamkheil took 15 wickets across 11 matches. His season best was 3/13, and the broader competition record shows how a bowler can add value without repeating a four-wicket innings every year.

The 2023 and 2024 wickets are both part of his career T20 total, but they belong to separate editions. Combining them is useful only when labelled as a multi-season CPL record; using the 2024 total to describe his later Patriots spell would blur a team change.

Why was Waqar Salamkheil's 4/22 for the Patriots significant?

Salamkheil's four overs returned 4/22 on his St Kitts & Nevis Patriots debut against Antigua & Barbuda Falcons on 14 August 2025. The official CPL report named him Player of the Match as the Patriots dismissed the Falcons for 121 and won by six wickets with five overs remaining.

The spell removed four batters in one innings and should not be confused with his 4/14 for Trinbago in 2023. Both are four-wicket CPL returns, but the teams, seasons, opponents and runs conceded are different.

How did the rest of his CPL 2025 season develop?

Salamkheil completed CPL 2025 with 15 wickets from ten matches for the Patriots, averaging 22.00 with an economy rate of 8.46. The 4/22 remained his season best and his only four-wicket return of that edition.

One opening-night award did not mean every match produced the same control. His season economy was higher than in CPL 2023, while the wicket count stayed substantial. Presenting both measures gives a more balanced view than using only the debut spell.

What did Salamkheil achieve in ILT20 Season 2?

Playing for MI Emirates in the 2023–24 ILT20 season, Salamkheil took 17 wickets and won the White Belt as the competition's leading bowler. His season economy was 7.17, and MI Emirates went on to win the tournament.

A White Belt is the ILT20's named bowling award, not a general world ranking. It is tied to one league edition. Salamkheil later earned the same award for a different team, making the season label essential whenever the achievement is mentioned.

How did his ILT20 Season 4 compare?

For Dubai Capitals in Season 4, Salamkheil finished with 18 wickets, three three-wicket hauls and an economy rate of 7.66. The official ILT20 award report named him the White Belt winner as the competition's most effective bowler. It was his second White Belt after the Season 2 award with MI Emirates.

Ajay Kumar also took 18 wickets, but the published award went to Salamkheil. The league report supplies the award result and season measures; it does not convert the 18 wickets into an international total or add them a second time to his T20 career line.

Which innings drove the Season 4 award?

Salamkheil began Season 4 with 2/18 against Desert Vipers, then delivered three-wicket spells as the campaign progressed. Against Sharjah Warriorz he took 3/22 in a 63-run Dubai Capitals win, dismissing Sikandar Raza, Dwaine Pretorius and Harmeet Singh.

He also took 3/34 against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, reaching ten tournament wickets during that match, and recorded a season best of 4/29. The three separate three-wicket hauls explain why the 18-wicket award was built on repeated contributions rather than one isolated innings.

What is Waqar Salamkheil's role in the Patriots' 2026 CPL campaign?

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots confirmed Salamkheil among their overseas players for the 2026 CPL campaign, alongside Naseem Shah, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Nikhil Chaudhary. Current official match records also place him in the Patriots roster during the live season.

A squad announcement proves that he joined the campaign, while each scorecard determines whether he played and what he delivered. The Patriots team schedule may contain more matches than his personal appearance count, so team results should never be converted automatically into player statistics.

What does his future ILT20 signing mean?

ILT20 announced Salamkheil as a Sharjah Warriorz pre-auction signing for Season 5. The league also recorded his earlier 21 appearances for MI Emirates and 11 for Dubai Capitals, showing that the new agreement represents another franchise change rather than a return to either former side.

A future signing confirms team registration for that competition window, not appearances or wickets before the season begins. His active CPL work with the Patriots and future ILT20 status can coexist because the leagues occupy different schedules and retain separate records.

How should his franchise records be compared?

Salamkheil has represented teams in the CPL, ILT20, Big Bash League, SA20 and Major League Cricket. The underlying skill is the same, but conditions, boundary sizes, opposition and tactical roles change. A bowling average from one league cannot be treated as a prediction for another.

The most useful comparison keeps the competition and season visible: 4/14 for Trinbago in CPL 2023, 4/22 for the Patriots in CPL 2025, and 18 wickets for Dubai Capitals in ILT20 Season 4. These are complementary pieces of evidence rather than interchangeable career totals.

What are the main takeaways from Waqar Salamkheil's career?

Salamkheil's career joins a rare Test milestone with a much larger franchise body of work. He took 2/35 in his best innings and 4/101 across Afghanistan's maiden Test win, then built repeated T20 value through wrist-spin, four-wicket CPL spells and two ILT20 White Belts.

His latest team context remains clearly divided: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for the 2026 CPL campaign and Sharjah Warriorz for the future ILT20 Season 5 window. The dated career table, season awards and current rosters each answer a different reader question and should stay within those boundaries.

Waqar Salamkheil records

Waqar Salamkheil career statistics and records

Batting, bowling and fielding figures are kept separate by competition and format.

Test (career snapshot through 23 March 2026)1matches

Batting

Runs: 1
High score: 1*
100s / 50s: 0/0

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 4
Best bowling: 2/35
Average: 25.25
Balls: 186
Catches / stumpings: 0 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 / 0

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

First-class (career snapshot through 23 March 2026)12matches

Batting

Runs: 110
High score: 29
Average: 10.00
100s / 50s: 0/0

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 74
Best bowling: 7/53
Average: 24.48
Balls: 3,054
Catches / stumpings: 9 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 6 / 1

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

List A (career snapshot through 23 March 2026)8matches

Batting

Runs: 3
High score: 2
Average: 1.00
100s / 50s: 0/0

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 4
Best bowling: 2/22
Average: 73.50
Balls: 372
Catches / stumpings: 3 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 / 0

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

T20 (career snapshot through 23 March 2026)101matches

Batting

Runs: 24
High score: 7
Average: 8.00
100s / 50s: 0/0

Bowling & fielding

Wickets: 133
Best bowling: 4/14
Average: 21.52
Balls: 2,122
Catches / stumpings: 9 catches; stumpings not listed
5w / 10w: 0 / 0

Only fields published by the named source are shown; unavailable values are not guessed.

Career chronology

Debut and last listed match

Test

Debut

15 March 2019 v Ireland, Dehradun

Last listed match

18 March 2019 v Ireland, Dehradun

CPL

Debut

2023 with Trinbago Knight Riders

Last listed match

Active 2026 campaign with St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

ILT20

Debut

Season 2 with MI Emirates

Last listed match

Season 5 pre-auction signing with Sharjah Warriorz

Career achievements

Career achievements and milestones

Took 2/35 in his best innings and 4/101 across his Test debut match.
Helped Afghanistan secure its maiden Test victory in March 2019.
Won the ILT20 White Belt with 17 wickets in Season 2.
Took 4/22 and won Player of the Match on his Patriots debut in 2025.
Won a second ILT20 White Belt after 18 wickets in Season 4.

Reader questions

Waqar Salamkheil FAQ

How old is Waqar Salamkheil?

Waqar Salamkheil was born on 2 October 2001 and was 24 years old on 16 August 2026.

What type of bowler is Waqar Salamkheil?

He is a left-arm unorthodox wrist-spinner who bats right-handed and is used primarily as a specialist bowler.

What were Waqar Salamkheil's Test debut figures?

His best innings return against Ireland was 2/35, and he finished the match with 4/101 as Afghanistan won by seven wickets.

How many wickets did Waqar Salamkheil take in ILT20 Season 4?

He took 18 wickets, including three three-wicket hauls, at an economy rate of 7.66 and won the White Belt.

What are Waqar Salamkheil's best CPL figures?

His best CPL return is 4/14 for Trinbago Knight Riders in 2023; he also took 4/22 and won Player of the Match on his Patriots debut in 2025.

Which team does Waqar Salamkheil play for in CPL 2026?

He was confirmed as an overseas player for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and appears in the club's official 2026 CPL campaign records.

Conclusion

Waqar Salamkheil moved from four wickets in Afghanistan's first Test victory to a specialist franchise career built around wicket-taking wrist spin. The 2/35 innings return, 4/101 match return, CPL four-wicket spells and two ILT20 White Belts show distinct achievements across distinct formats.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots provide his active 2026 CPL context, while Sharjah Warriorz hold his future ILT20 Season 5 signing. Career aggregates remain tied to their stated cutoff, and new league results belong to their own season records until a complete career refresh is available.