Ahead of Asia Cup 2023, Afghanistan has announced the 17-member squad for the event which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023
The Asia Cup is set to begin on August 30 where Pakistan and Nepal will be playing in the inaugural match of the event. Almost all countries have announced their squad for the continental event Afghanistan has announced their squad on August 27.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will be captaining the side in the tournament. Players like Omarzai, Ahmed Malik, and Shahidullah Kamal were excluded from the squad after Afghanistan’s defeat against Pakistan in a three-match ODI series.
On this occasion, Karim Janat who played for Afghanistan 6 years ago has been returned to the side. Sharafuddin Ashraf has also returned to the side after January 2022.
The 16th edition of the Asia Cup tournament is scheduled to play between August – September.
The tournament will be played between the five full members of the Asian Cricket Council. The 2023 ACC Men’s Premier Cup winner Nepal will join India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
The participating 6 teams will be categorized into 2 groups of three teams where the top 2 teams of the Asia Cup 2023 points table will advance to the Super Four round(of each group). The final of the tournament will be played between the top two teams of the Super 4 round.
India, Pakistan, and Nepal were grouped in A while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan will be in Group B.
The Asia Cup 2023 will serve as a warmup match for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The board and team management considered all possibilities for the Asia Cup and gave the team the best chance of winning the title.
India is the most successful team in the Asia Cup with 7 titles, following Sri Lanka with six titles and Pakistan with two titles.
Out of 13 matches, four matches will be played in Pakistan while the remaining 9 matches will be played in Sri Lanka. India will be having their first match against their arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 at Pallekele International Stadium.
Afghanistan will be facing Bangladesh in their first match on the continental event on September 3 at Gaddafi Stadium.
Afghanistan Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Fazalhaq Farooqi
