Asia Cup 2023: Afghanistan Squad For The Marquee Tournament

The six-nation Asia Cup, which will be played in a 50-over format will be played from August 31st to September 17th, has grouped India and Pakistan with Nepal. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are included in the other group.

.The final will be one of a total of 13 games that will be played in the tournament to decide the winner of the marquee event. Afghanistan will be a team to watch for the upcoming edition of the Asia Cup 2023, as they have got more experience playing in Subcontinental conditions over the years. The team will be high confidence in defeating Pakistan in the recent T20 series in Sharjah.

Here’s a probable 15-men Afghanistan squad for the Asia Cup 2023:

1. Openers- Rahmanullah Gurbaz And Ibrahim Zadran

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is gaining experience in T20 leagues around the world, could be their team’s frontline opener going into the Asia Cup 2023. The Youngster is one of the underrated players in World Cricket, who plays a fearless brand of cricket for his team opening the innings alongside Ibrahim Zadran.

Ibrahim Zadran has cemented his spot as an opener with his consistent show across the format, he became the second fastest batter to 500 ODI runs, having reached the feat in his ninth innings in the recently concluded Sri Lanka series.

2. Middle Order Batters -Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Najibullah Zadran, Rahmat Shah, And Riaz Hassan 

Left-handed batter Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the 15-man squad. The left-hander put on a fine display of ODI cricket batting and showed great temperament in International Cricket. He will look to continue his fine form going into the marquee event

Najibullah Zadran is a left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off-spin is one of the experienced players in the Afghanistan team making his debut for the team in 2012 and Rahmat Shah will be another crucial member of the team has played around Asia, as his experiences would be handy for the team in Asia Cup and ODI World Cup.

3. Wicket-keeper – Ikram Alikhil

The young Afghan keeper’s performance will be crucial for his team’s chances in this tournament. He was also a key player for his country for his during his U19 days. He can be a Key player to the team in the middle if provided an opportunity, as he can perfect backup for Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the upcoming marquee event. His glovework too improved over the years as his batting.

4. Rounders – Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, And Rashid Khan

Mohammad Nabi resigned as Afghanistan’s captain following their exit at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and was also left out of the white-ball series against UAE, made a comeback to the team and has performed exceedingly for his team in International Cricket, considering the experience that he will look to contribute to the team success in Asia Cup.

The Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan has been one of the best players in the world and has once again proved his worth in International Cricket, with the ability to contribute to the team’s success with both bat and ball. Azmatullah Omarzai will be the third all-rounder in the squad with his recent contribution to the team.

5. Spinners – Mujeeb Ur Rahman And Noor Ahmad

Mujeeb Ur Rahman And Noor Ahmed can be a pillar of strength for the Afghanistan team in the recent time as they are bowling in tandem to provide a vital breakthrough for them in the recent series. The Afghanistan side has got numerous spin bowling options with the likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zahir Khan, and  Qais Ahmed on their side they will crucial for team success in continental events.

6. Fast Bowlers – Fazalhaq Farooq, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Naveen ul Haq

Fazalhaq Farooqi has been a regular member of the playing XI for Afghanistan, and the pacer hasn’t looked back since, making match-winning contributions for his team in international Cricket. The left-arm pacer has also gained some experience playing around the globe in T20 leagues.

Fareed Ahmad and Naveen ul Haq can be the other two pacers in the team, as they have shown the ability to perform for the team at the highest level, with variations in death overs can be handy for the team.