The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has wasted no time in finalising the names in contention for the upcoming tri-nation series and the 2025 Asia Cup. The ACB has narrowed down the names to 22 members, with star all-rounder Rashid Khan named captain.
As per the ACB, the squad will take part in a two-week preparation camp in the UAE, where the focus will be on enhancing player fitness, fine-tuning skills, and crafting match strategies for the high-profile tournaments ahead.
Rashid Khan’s inclusion as skipper is no surprise, especially given his stature as one of the most feared spinners in global T20 cricket. With fellow spin maestros like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad Lakanwal, Sharafuddin Ashraf, and Mohammad Nabi also in the squad, Afghanistan’s “spin it to win it” strategy is a bold call.
In the pace department, the likes of Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Karim Janat provide a dynamic mix of seam and swing options, especially suited for conditions in the UAE.
The batting unit includes familiar names such as Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is expected to keep wickets, Ibrahim Zadran, and Darwish Rasooli, while emerging talents like Sediqullah Atal and Wafiullah Tarakhil have been called up to prove their mettle in the lead-up to final squad selection.
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | Azmatullah Omarzai | Fazal Haq Farooqi | Farid Malik |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sediqullah Atal | Gulbadin Naib | Naveen-ul-Haq | Saleem Safi |
| Wafiullah Tarakhil | Mujeeb Zadran | AM Ghazanfar | Abdullah Ahmadzai |
| Ibrahim Zadran | Noor Ahmad Lakanwal | Bashir Ahmad | Darwish Rasooli |
| Mohammad Ishaq | Rashid Khan (c) | Mohammad Nabi | Nangyal Kharoti |
| Sharafuddin Ashraf | Karim Janat |