Asia Cup Afghanistan Squad

Rashid Khan will captain Afghanistan at the men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE, where the team is shaping up as one of the most serious contenders. Alongside Rashid, Afghanistan will field a powerful spin department featuring Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and rising talent AM Ghazanfar.
Afghanistan last played international cricket in February at the Champions Trophy, and their most recent T20I series was in December 2024 against Zimbabwe. That three-match series ended in a 2-1 win for Rashid’s side. To prepare for the Asia Cup, they will also play a triangular T20I series in Sharjah against Pakistan and hosts UAE.
From the squad that toured Zimbabwe, Hazratullah Zazai and Zubaid Akbari have been left out, while spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has moved to the reserves. In their place come Ibrahim Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Ghazanfar, who is set to make his T20I debut.
Ghazanfar, only 19, already has an impressive record. In just 11 ODIs, he has taken two five-wicket hauls, including a stunning 6 for 26 against Bangladesh in Sharjah last year. Although injuries delayed his IPL debut after Mumbai Indians signed him for INR 4.8 crore, he has gained experience in global T20 leagues like the CPL and ILT20.
Rashid himself returns from a mixed run of form, a difficult IPL but a strong showing in the Hundred with Oval Invincibles. Nabi is also match-ready after guiding Mis Ainak Knights to the final of the Shpageeza Cricket League earlier this month. Noor Ahmad arrives on the back of a standout IPL with Chennai Super Kings and a stint with Manchester Originals at the Hundred, while Mujeeb continues his franchise cricket run with the Barbados Royals in the CPL.
The pace attack is led by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq, supported by allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib. With Ibrahim Zadran returning to bolster the top order, Afghanistan’s batting will rely on Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli and Karim Janat to deliver alongside the bowlers.
At the Asia Cup, Afghanistan are placed in Group B with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Group A features India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman. Afghanistan’s campaign begins with the tournament opener against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on September 9.
Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2025:
Rashid Khan (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 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
Reserve players: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

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