Nawroz Mangal was not Afghanistan's first captain, but he led the team to notable success after taking over the helm in 2007 and was in charge when the team became the first affiliate nation to gain ODI status at the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers, and when they qualified for the 2010 World Twenty20 tournament. A middle-order batsman, Mangal is not as carefree a stroke-maker as some in Afghanistan's batting order, but lends solidity to the middle order. Mangal handed the captaincy on to Mohammad Nabi in November 2010 but remained a fixture in the team's line-up, gaining a second chance at leading the team before once again handing the reins to Nabi in March 2013 in order to focus on his own batting.

Mangal spent most of his early life in refugee camps in Pakistan, and like many of his team-mates that is where he picked up cricket. His start in cricket echoes the story of Bollywood cricket movie 'Iqbal' - Taj Malik, the coach of the Afghanistan team, spotted the talented Mangal and wished to groom him further. Mangal's father, however, was totally against the idea as he didn't think that a living could be made out of the sport. But, in a curious mirroring of the film's plot, Malik went to great lengths to change his mind, staying overnight at Mangal's home, pleading with his father and convincing him that his son could forge a noteworthy career. His father finally relented, and Mangal has since become, along with the rest of his team, a national hero.
Liam Brickhill