The Afghanistan cricket team has announced its squad for the Asia Cup 2025, which will be played in the T20 format in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28. Star leg-spinner Rashid Khan will continue as captain.
Afghanistan has included 17 players in their squad. The team looks strong with a powerful bowling attack and experienced all-rounders.
Naveen-ul-Haq Returns, Allah Ghazanfar Fit Again
Pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has made a return to the national side after almost nine months. He had retired from ODI cricket in 2023 but will now play a key role in the T20 squad.
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Teenage spinner Allah Ghazanfar, who missed games due to injury, has also been picked. He will play his first Asia Cup and will join Afghanistan’s spin attack.
Strong Bowling Attack Gives Afghanistan an Edge
Afghanistan’s biggest strength is its bowling unit. Alongside Rashid Khan, the team has Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Allah Ghazanfar. The bowling attack is supported by all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who continues to shine in white-ball cricket.
Veterans Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib also add depth and experience to the squad.
Afghanistan Aim for Maiden Asia Cup Title
In the last three ICC white-ball tournaments, Afghanistan has performed better than most Asian sides, except India. Their biggest achievement came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-final for the first time.
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During that campaign, Rashid Khan’s men defeated both New Zealand and Australia for the first time in history. The team now hopes to carry that momentum into the Asia Cup 2025 and win their maiden title.
Fixtures and Group Stage Matches
Afghanistan is placed in Group B with Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Their fixtures are:
September 9: vs Hong Kong (Opening match, Abu Dhabi)
September 16: vs Bangladesh (Abu Dhabi)
September 18: vs Sri Lanka (Abu Dhabi)
If they progress, they will move into the Super Four stage.
Full 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.
