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Rashid Khan To Captain As Afghanistan Announce 17-Member Asia Cup Squad

Soumyajit Dutta

Afghanistan Announces Squad for Asia Cup [Source: @sachin_rt/X.com]Afghanistan Announces Squad for Asia Cup [Source: @sachin_rt/X.com]

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has named a dynamic 17-player squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, blending seasoned veterans with explosive young talents. Led by captain Rashid Khan, the side aims to build on its recent successes in white-ball cricket as it appears for the fifth time in the Asia Cup.

Rashid Khan Leads Strong Afghanistan Squad

Rashid Khan will once again don the captain’s hat in the limited-overs format. Rashid’s world-beating legspin, tactical acumen, and inspirational presence make him the perfect on-field general for this pivotal tournament. 

Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi returns not only for his useful offspin and lower-order hitting but also his invaluable mentoring role to younger teammates. Gulbadin Naib, another experienced campaigner, provides seam-bowling depth.

The opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran promises both aggression and solidity. Gurbaz, coming off a string of rapid starts in recent T20Is, will look to attack from ball one. 

Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal complete the top four. Middle-order stakes are fortified by Azmatullah Omarzai’s big-hitting prowess and Karim Janat’s finishing flair. Young Mohammad Ishaq, who impressed in domestic white-ball tournaments, earns his maiden call-up.

The Strong Spin & Pace Arsenal

The spin department remains Afghanistan’s traditional stronghold. Alongside skipper Rashid and Nabi, legspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman returns to provide his unique mystery spin. Noor Ahmad, the left-arm wrist spinner, makes the cut on the back of his recent IPL breakout, offering variety in the middle overs.

Afghanistan’s pace battery boasts both raw pace and control. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq lead the quicks with express speed and ability to extract steep bounce. 

Afghanistan's Asia Cup Squad

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

Reserve Players - Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangyal Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai

Squad Balance and Outlook

This squad’s blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars underscores ACB’s commitment to continuity and youth development. With most of the players possessing Asia Cup experience and few novices eager for their first major tournament, Afghanistan boasts a well-balanced unit capable of adapting to varied pitches. The interplay of Rashid’s leadership, the spin contingent’s prowess, and the seamers’ firepower makes Afghanistan one of the most intriguing outfits in Asia Cup 2025.