Afghanistan’s Probable Squad For 2023 World Cup

image-ll5hzy93Rashid Khan celebrates a wicket with teammates in Bangladesh (Twitter)

An insurgent Afghan unit created history in Bangladesh back in July, by handing hosts a rare ODI series defeat at home. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Rashid Khan among others underpinned team’s success in the cricket-crazy nation, thus injecting themselves with a massive boost ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India.

While Australia have already listed down their formidable squad for the quadrennial event, the remaining nine competing nations are yet to release their respective sides. Afghanistan will now compete in the 2023 Asia Cup before hosting Pakistan in Sri Lanka for three ODI matches, with both serving as their final dress rehearsal for the main event.

As Hashmatullah Shahidi and co. fine-tune themselves for the 2023 World Cup, let’s see what could be their squad for the tournament.


Afghanistan’s Probable Squad For 2023 World Cup

Batters: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Riaz Hassan, Ikram Alikhil, Najibullah Zadran

Wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz and 21-year-old star Ibrahim Zadran steamrolled Bangladesh in their fortress to script a 2-1 series win for Afghanistan. The team management will likely persist with the two as their primary opening combination, and will keep Riaz Hassan in the squad as one of the back-up openers.

Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s mere presence in the line-up adds a legion of experience, alongside much-needed stability to the Afghanistan top-order. Meanwhile, Ikram Alikhil might find a way into the squad as a backup wicketkeeping option.


All-Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Shahidullah Kamal

Afghanistan will heavily rely on their all-round veterans Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, considering their understanding of Indian pitches from IPL will come in handy for their national team in the World Cup.

Shahidullah Kamal, on the other hand, played his last ODI for Afghanistan more than a year ago. Despite his prolonged absence, the selection committee chose him as one of the squad members for a pre-World Cup series against Pakistan. Kamal holds a formidable List A record, having minted runs in the middle-order at over 50 and taken handy wickets through his left-arm spin.


Bowlers: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman

image-ll5i1c2dFazalhaq Farooqi celebrates a wicket against Pakistan (Twitter)

Afghanistan’s pace battery will likely constitute of in-form Fazalhaq Farooqi and newcomers Mohammad Saleem Safi, Abdul Rahman. Azmatullah Omarzai, holding a formidable List A record with the ball, is also more than a handy exponent while batting with the tail.

While the team’s spin department will be led by all-rounders Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan; the two will be assisted by team’s primary spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Noor Ahmad, while short on international experience, shot himself to national reckoning with splendid run in the ongoing LPL 2023 season in Sri Lanka.


Afghanistan’s Probable Squad For 2023 World Cup

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Riaz Hassan, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Shahidullah Kamal, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Noor Ahmad and Abdul Rahman.