Wesal TV(Scarborough):The Khogyani Association of Canada held a ceremony in Scarborough to honour the achievements of Zahid Shirzad, a fast bowler from Afghanistan’s domestic cricket scene, and to celebrate his selection to Canada’s national cricket team.
At the event, community members, cricket fans and participants praised Shirzad’s efforts, talent and achievements, describing his success as a source of pride for the Afghan community and an inspiration for young players.
Zahid Shirzad is a former Afghan domestic cricketer who had previously delivered strong and notable performances in domestic cricket and the Shpageeza League.
He arrived in Canada in 2022 through very difficult routes and, over the past three years, has performed well based on his abilities and represented Canada strongly.
The Afghan-born player now plays as a fast bowler for Canada’s national cricket team and represents Canada in the qualification matches for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
According to Shirzad, he is the only fast bowler in the Canadian team whose bowling speed reaches up to 145 kilometres per hour.
Cricket Canada, by posting photos of Zahid Shirzad on its Facebook page, praised his strong performance. The post also included an image of him receiving his One-Day International cap.
On Cricket Canada’s Facebook page, it wrote: “A special moment for Zahid Shirzad; he receives his ODI cap from Aaron Johnson and officially begins his journey in Canadian colours.”
Although cricket does not have a very long history in Afghanistan, Afghan youth have shone in the sport and have now earned opportunities to play not only for their own national team but also for other international teams.
Shirzad was part of Canada’s national team on June 16, 2026, for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match between Canada and the Netherlands in King City, Ontario. The match was an important part of the qualification process for the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
According to statistics recorded by Cricinfo, Zahid Shirzad has, in a short period of time, proven to be an effective bowler for Canada in One Day Internationals, first-class, List A and T20 matches. So far, he has taken 6 wickets in 3 One Day Internationals, 9 wickets in 6 first-class matches, 6 wickets in 3 List A matches and 4 wickets in 3 T20 matches.
Shirzad was born on August 28, 2000, in Kotikhel village of Shirzad district in Nangarhar province. After graduating from Grade 12 in Nangarhar, he studied at the Faculty of Economics at Kunar University.
Zahid told Wesal TV that he had played cricket since childhood and had taken part in all levels of Afghanistan’s domestic cricket. He said he had even reached the national team’s training camps and had played in the Shpageeza League, List A and all provincial domestic competitions, where he achieved strong results.
The former Afghan domestic cricketer criticizes previous decisions by the Afghanistan Cricket Board and claims that young players like him were not given a proper chance to reach the national team. He says that because of this disappointment, he decided to leave Afghanistan and came to Canada through difficult routes.
Shirzad told Wesal TV: “If they had given me a chance in Afghanistan and I had known in Afghanistan that I would get an opportunity in the national team, then I would not have left Afghanistan. I became 100 percent convinced there that these people were wasting my time and would not give me a chance in the national team. That is why I left Afghanistan; otherwise, I would not have left Afghanistan.”
Shirzad, who is now a player for Canada’s national cricket team, says that cricket fans and players in Canada are increasing day by day, but the necessary facilities for professional training remain limited.
He says: “If someone wants to become a professional cricketer, they should not rely only on local fields. Players need to use private academies, gyms and even training centres in other Canadian cities and outside the country.”
According to Shirzad, specialized training centres and advanced facilities are especially limited for bowlers; places where players can continuously improve their technique, fitness and skills.
He adds that Canada’s long and cold winter also has a direct impact on the development of cricket. During winter, using outdoor fields becomes difficult and often impossible, forcing players to travel to other cities in order to continue their training consistently.
Shirzad says he gave three years of hard work, continuous training and sacrifice to reach Canada’s national team. He previously lived in Scarborough and moved to the North York area of Toronto about two years ago.
He advises young people to pursue whatever field they love with passion, commitment and patience, because, in his view, success is achieved not only through talent but also through continuous effort, family support and a suitable environment.
Zahid Shirzad says his success proves that there is talent within Afghan and other immigrant communities, but that these talents can reach national and international levels only when proper support, facilities and a training environment are provided.
He adds: “Young people should pursue their goals with passion and patience, but family, community and government support is very important for their progress.”
Views: 53