New Delhi: Afghanistan have announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is set to begin on September 9 in the UAE. Rashid Khan will lead the team, and fast bowler Naveen-ul–Haq is also set to make a comeback after last playing for his country in December 2024.
Afghanistan last played a T20I series against Zimbabwe in December 2024, and only two players, Hazratullah Zazai and Zubaid Akbari, have been dropped from that squad. The selectors have also named three reserve players who will travel with the team for the Asia Cup 2025. Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangyal Kharote, and Abdullah Ahmadzai are among the standbys for the tournament.
The Afghans are placed in Group B along with Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. They will face Hong Kong in the opening game of the Asia Cup on September 9, and after that, Rashid and Co. will take on Bangladesh on September 16. Their last league game will be against Sri Lanka on September 18. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage of the tournament.
Afghanistan will also play a T20I tri-series against the UAE and Pakistan, starting on August 29. The series will be played at Sharjah Cricket Ground, as Dubai and Abu Dhabi are set to host the Asia Cup matches. This series will help them to prepare for the Asia Cup. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has also confirmed that the 22-member squad announced earlier for the camp will feature in the tri-series.
Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2025
Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul–Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Reserve Players: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangyal Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai