Asia Cup: Spin-heavy Afghanistan look to further cricketing progress

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 3:20 AM ET

A full-strength Afghanistan unit will participate in the 2025 Asia Cup after the ACB announced their 17-member squad for the event on August 24. Allah Ghazanfar and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, who both missed the Champions Trophy earlier this year, have returned to the national setup to strengthen the spin attack that will be led by skipper Rashid Khan and senior pro Mohammad Nabi. Ibrahim Zadran, who made his comeback in the Champions Trophy, features in the squad too with Hazratullah Zazai making way.

Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal are the specialist batters while Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Ishaq are the keeper-bats included in the squad. Afghanistan have a fairly settled core of all-rounders including the 40-year-old Nabi. Alongside him, the squad comprises of Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, and Gulbadin Naib.

Naveen-ul-Haq short on miles under his legs

The pace battery will be spearheaded by left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi with Naveen-ul-Haq, with Farid Ahmad Malik also being in the mix. If he makes it to the team sheet, this will be Naveen’s first game for Afghanistan in 2025, similar to Mujeeb and Ghazanfar, considering the pacer had already called it quits in the 50-over format.

The squad also contains three travelling reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhail, Nangyal Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai. Afghanistan will gear up for the Asian competition by partaking in a tri-series against UAE and Pakistan from this week, where most cricketers from this squad will be in action.

Afghanistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign with the tournament opener against Hong Kong on September 9. They had famously reached the semifinals of the T20 World Cup last year, knocking out heavyweights Australia out of the tournament in the process.

Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2025

Squad: Rashid Khan (c),Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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