Kabul: Afghanistan have officially announced their squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series and the Asia Cup 2025, both set to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The announcement came on Sunday as cricket fans eagerly await the team’s return to action after a long break from the shortest format.
Rashid Khan will captain Afghanistan, leading a mix of experienced players and exciting new talent. The spin department looks formidable with Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The 19-year-old Ghazanfar is yet to make his T20I debut but has impressed in domestic matches and ODIs, making his inclusion a major talking point.
The tri-series, which features Afghanistan, Pakistan, and hosts UAE, begins in Sharjah on Friday. Following this, the six-nation Asia Cup will kick off on September 9 in Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan are placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka, while India, Oman, Pakistan, and UAE form Group A. Afghanistan will play Hong Kong in their opening Asia Cup match.
The fast-bowling unit includes Fazlhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib, offering variety and depth to the attack. Afghanistan last played a T20I in 2024 during the Men’s T20I World Cup in the United States and West Indies, where they reached the semi-finals but have since been out of competitive action in this format.
After the Asia Cup, Afghanistan will also face Bangladesh in a bilateral series comprising three T20Is and three ODIs, also scheduled in the UAE.
Squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi.