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World-Class Spinners And...? 3 Strengths Of Afghanistan's Champions Trophy 2025 Squad

Anurag Dasgupta

AFG have world class spinners [Source: @Saabir_Saabu01/X.Com] AFG have world class spinners [Source: @Saabir_Saabu01/X.Com]

The Afghanistan team has surely risen as a unit in the last decade and have suddenly become a force to reckon at the ICC events. In the last two ICC tournaments, the team played beyond their imagination and also reached the semis of the T20 World Cup 2024. Afghanistan have a well rounded squad and the selectors announced their Champions Trophy squad recently.

It won't be an understatement to say that they have become an Asian powerhouse and have leapfrogged the likes of Bangladesh and Pakistan in ICC events. Every player knows their strengths and weaknesses and time and again they have shown their quality against top oppositions.

The upcoming Champions Trophy will be another litmus Test for the Afghan boys who are placed in a tricky group. In this article, we'll look at Afghanistan's 3 biggest strengths ahead of the mega event.

3) World-class spin attack

In Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and Allah Ghazanfar, the Afghan side probably has the best spin attack of the tournament.

All four spinners bring something different to the table and all the four are wicket-taking bowlers which makes them deadly. The spin attack comprises of Rashid and Nabi, two veterans of the game, and the attack also has young and exciting Noor and Ghazanfar, who are still a mystery for most of the teams. There will be conditions in Pakistan which will suit their bowling, and if the team plays a game in Dubai, then the spinners will be buzzing with excitement.

2) Ever-reliant opening pair

Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are the two most reliable opening pair in the Champions Trophy 2025. Both the players know their strengths and compliment each other well.

Since 2020, the pair has scored the second most ODI runs as an opening pair (1514) in 31 innings, with the top spot occupying by India's Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (1732). If Afghanistan are to score a big total or chase down a target, this pair will be crucial and just like previous ICC tournaments, Gurbaz and Zadram will be eager to prove their class in Champions Trophy as well.

1) The fighting spirit within the team!

More than any player, more than the skillset, Afghanistan rely on their fighting spirit, something which has helped them in previous ICC tournaments.

In the World Cup 2023, they almost reached the semi-finals and were one of the best teams of the tournament. The team showed immense grit and determination to defeat sides like Pakistan and England.

Even in the T20 World Cup last year, the side reached the semi-finale and were mentally so strong that they never feared any opposition and it needed a strong South African side to stop their juggernaut. If the Afghans play with the same fighting spirit, don't be surprised if they reach the knockout round of the tournament.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran