This 16-year-old Nepal cricketer breaks Sachin Tendulkar, Shahid Afridi’s international cricket record

Sachin Tendulkar and Shahid Afridi have plenty of records to their name in international cricket. However, one Nepal cricketer has broken the records of these two legends during an international game. Rohit Paudel of Nepal made a big name for himself during the team’s ODI clash against United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai on Saturday. Paudel, aged 16 years and 147 days, smashed 55 off 58 balls and his knock made him the youngest to score an international fifty breaking the previous record held by Tendulkar and Afridi. Tendulkar had hit his maiden international fifty at 16 years and 213 days in a Test match against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 1989. Paudel also is the youngest man to score an ODI fifty, surpassing Shahid Afridi, who scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka at 16 years and 217 days.

Paudel’s wonderful 55, aided by a solid 44 from Gyanendra Malla, helped Nepal reach 242/9 in their 50 overs against UAE. In response, the hosts were bundled out for 97 in just 19.3 overs with Sompal Kami and their ace international spinner Sandeep Lamichhane creating havoc. Kami picked up 5/33 while Lamichhane ended up figures of 4-1-24-4 as Nepal thrashed UAE to level the three-match series 1-1. UAE had won the previous game by three wickets after they had bowled out Nepal for 113. The third and final ODI will be played on Monday and it will be followed by three Twenty20 Internationals. All the games will be played in Dubai.

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Tendulkar’s fifty in the Faisalabad Test made him a star in Indian cricket while Afridi set the world stage on fire as he smashed the-then fastest century in ODI cricket. The Pakistan all-rounder’s star display helped Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs at the Nairobi Gymkhana.

Paudel would be hoping to make waves in international cricket just like Lamichhane, who has put Nepal cricket on the world map with his exploits in the Big Bash League in Australia as well as for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tendulkar hit a fifty at 16 years and 213 days.
• Afridi scored a century at 16 years and 217 days.
• Nepal beat UAE by 145 runs to level series 1-1.