Afghanistan At Asia Cup 2025: Full Squad, Strengths, Weaknesses, Risks And Predicted XI

Aghanistan team SWOT analysis [Source: @ACBofficials/x.com]

With the Asia Cup 2025 almost upon us, all eyes will be on Afghanistan. The Rashid Khan-led side is no longer the underdog people used to brush aside.

Their semi-final run in the T20 World Cup 2024 showed the world that this team is ready to rub shoulders with the big boys. They have the firepower to beat anyone on their day, even India. The Men in Blue might still be the favourites, but Afghanistan are surely the dark horses who can spoil the party.

Before diving into the nitty-gritty, let’s rewind a bit. They are yet to win a T20I vs India. Against Pakistan in T20Is, they have won 4 out of 9. Against Bangladesh, they have edged ahead with 7 wins in 12. Versus Sri Lanka, they have managed 3 wins from 8. Clearly, this team has the knack of giving top sides a run for their money.

The big question now is: can they turn potential into silverware? In this article, we take a look at the Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup 2025 and then try to analyse the strengths, weaknesses and title chances.

Afghanistan Full Squad For Asia Cup 2025

Batters: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Ishaq
All-rounders: Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf
Bowlers: Rashid Khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Allah Ghazanfar, Farid Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Strengths Of Afghanistan For Asia Cup 2025

Spin Kings In UAE

If spin wins matches, Afghanistan already have one hand on the trophy. Rashid Khan remains the jewel in their crown, a bowler who can change the game in a blink.

Noor Ahmad has grown into a wicket-taking machine, especially after a blockbuster IPL 2025 season. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman is their economy king, someone who can choke runs in the powerplay.

Throw in young Ghazanfar and left-arm option Sharafuddin and the Afghans have got a spin department that can make batters dance to their tunes.

All-Round Depth A Big Plus

What sets Afghanistan apart is the sheer number of all-rounders. Omarzai can swing the new ball and also clear the ropes. Mohammad Nabi is still their Mr Dependable as he offers calmness when things get heated.

Karim Janat and Gulbadin Naib add that flexibility which every skipper loves to have. Basically, they are spoiled for choice, something that can be a real blessing in a long tournament.

IPL School Of Hard Knocks

Rashid Khan [Source: @acb_190/x.com]

Afghanistan’s big guns have all tasted the IPL grind. Rashid, Noor, Gurbaz, Naveen. you name them, they have been part of high-pressure IPL clashes. This kind of exposure is priceless.

While other Asian teams hardly get such luxury, Afghan cricketers are now seasoned campaigners, used to the pressure and crunch moments. That is a massive plus going into the Asia Cup.

Weaknesses Of Afghanistan For Asia Cup 2025

Batting Cracks Under Pressure

Here’s where the cracks start to show. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran can give flying starts, but the batting tends to crumble if the openers fail.

Chasing has been their Achilles’ heel. Once the pressure builds, the middle ordr often loses its way. They have talent, no doubt but consistency is missing when it matters most.

Temperament On Big Days

Making the semi-final of the T20 World Cup was huge but now expectations have skyrocketed. The big-match nerves have hurt them before and unless they find ice in their veins, the pressure could weigh them down again.

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Opportunities For Afghanistan In Asia Cup 2025

Carry Forward World Cup Momentum

The Asia Cup 2025 is the perfect launchpad for Afghanistan to build on their T20 World Cup 2024 success. If they can ride that wave and keep their fearless brand of cricket alive, they could very well go deep into the tournament.

Grooming Young Guns For 2026

With names like Rasooli, Atal, Ishaq and Ghazanfar in the squad, Afghanistan have a golden chance to test the next generation. Mixing youth with seasoned campaigners like Nabi and Rashid is exactly what they need before the T20 World Cup 2026.

Threats For Afghanistan In Asia Cup 2025

Overdependence On Rashid

The team banks heavily on Rashid Khan. If he has an off-day or if opposition teams manage to play him out safely, Afghanistan lose a big edge. They need others to step up so Rashid doesn’t carry the entire burden.

Expectations A Double-Edged Sword

The fairytale rise of Afghanistan cricket has captured the world’s attention. But too much expectation can be a millstone around the neck. The hype is real, but it could also become a distraction if players start overthinking.

Dependencies For Afghanistan In Asia Cup 2025

Gurbaz And Zadran At The Top

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran [Source: @acb_190/x.com]

The batting hinges on how Gurbaz and Zadran go about their business. Gurbaz likes to tee off early while Zadran plays the anchor. Their chemistry will decide whether Afghanistan can post or chase down totals. If they keep firing together, the middle order will have a lot less pressure to deal with.

Spin To Win In The Middle

The trio of Rashid, Noor and Mujeeb will decide Afghanistan’s fate. On slow UAE tracks, they have the perfect recipe to suffocate batters and force mistakes. If the spinners strike in clusters, Afghanistan can bully any batting lineup.

Win Probability Vs Key Opponents (Statistically Calculated):

• vs Pakistan: 46%
• vs Bangladesh: 55%
• vs Sri Lanka: 45%
• vs India: 18%

Bottom Line

Afghanistan’s win probability for the Asia Cup 2025 stands at 41%. That makes them dangerous floaters, capable of knocking out anyone but not quite the outright favourites yet. Their spin attack is world-class, their all-round options give depth and their IPL-tested stars add strength. But the batting frailty and the burden of expectation remain their biggest hurdles. If the openers set the tone and the spinners weave their magic, don’t be surprised if Afghanistan script another fairytale.

Best Possible XI Of Afghanistan For Asia Cup 2025

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Ibrahim Zadran
Sediqullah Atal
Azmatullah Omarzai
Karim Janat
Mohammad Nabi
Rashid Khan (c)
Darwish Rasooli
Noor Ahmad
Mujeeb-ur-Rahman/Allah Ghazanfar
Fazalhaq Farooqi

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