Zia-ul-Haq Parwani

Zia-ul-Haq Parwani is an Afghan refugee currently living in the UK (Smethwick)and looking to make a name for himself in English domestic cricket.

Parwani initially entered the UK in April 2022 and spent the summer plying his trade in the Bradford League for Bankfoot Cricket Club. He was a resounding success in what was his maiden UK stint and his exploits ultimately helped the club earn promotion to the Premier League. The batting all-rounder produced some outstanding performances with both bat (857 runs at 31.74), and ball (62 wickets at 20.11), most notably match-winning figures of 9-54 against Townville.

Prior to immigrating to the UK, Parwani skippered his provincial side Band-e-Amir Region and was a stand-out Afghani professional. During his 4 years (2017-21) on the domestic circuit, Parwani played 55 matches in both first-class (29), and List A (26). In red-ball cricket, he scored 11 centuries, 7 fifties, amongst 2,570 runs at 55.86. He was equally prolific in white ball with 703 runs at 41.35 with a century and 5 fifties.

In his most recent competition (Nov/Dec 2021), prior to heading to Northern shores, he finished top of his sides' run charts and fifth overall with 203 runs at 50.75. Parwani backed up the form that has seen him finish amongst the leading run-scorers in Afghanistan’s first-class competition in each of the previous 3 seasons.

During his maiden Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-Day Tournament campaign, he finished as the second leading run-scorer, hitting an incredible 5 centuries in 15 innings amongst his 902 runs at 75.16. The following season, he produced a further 3 centuries and 714 runs at 47.60 to finish fifth on the charts. Roll on the next campaign (2019) and Parwani would churn out another 616 runs at 41.06 to finish sixth on the tournament run charts.

It's fair to say Parwani is an absolute run machine, but he's no one-trick pony. As evidenced by his Bradford exploits (62 wickets including a 9for) and 24 domestic wickets in Afghanistan, he can lay claim to holding genuine all-rounder status.

Now based permanently in Smethwick, Parwani enjoyed another barnstorming stint with Wolverhampton in the Birmingham and District Premier League last summer. He was an instrumental figure in the club's Premier success hitting 614 runs at 34.11 and taking 24 wickets at 18.

Next season, the Afghan all-rounder, who is now deemed a Cat 1 registered player, is set to journey north having signed with Rode Park and Lawton for their 2024 North Staffs and South Cheshire League campaign.