Afghanistan Eyes Asia Cup Glory, Kicks Off Preparations with UAE Tri-Series

Afghanistan's national cricket team is embarking on a pivotal phase of preparation for the highly anticipated Asia Cup. Their journey begins with a challenging tri-series hosted in Sharjah, where they will face off against regional rivals Pakistan and the host nation, UAE. This series marks Afghanistan's first white-ball appearance since the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in February 2025, setting the stage for an intense build-up to the continental championship.

Squad Dynamics: Returns, Exclusions, and Emerging Talent

The squad for the tri-series reflects a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. Notably, top-order batsman Ibrahim Zadran makes a significant return to the T20I setup, having last featured for the national side during the 2024 World Cup. His inclusion is expected to bolster the batting line-up.

Conversely, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has been excluded from the T20I squad for the tri-series, though he remains a reserve for the upcoming Asia Cup, indicating he is still very much in the selectors' plans for the bigger tournament.

An exciting prospect is the potential T20I debut of mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar. His inclusion further strengthens an already formidable spin attack, which is a hallmark of Afghanistan's cricketing prowess. Captain Rashid Khan will lead this spin contingent, which also features stalwarts Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and the promising Noor Ahmad. Naveen-ul-Haq is the only player from the Champions Trophy squad who will not be part of the tri-series.

The Tri-Series Challenge: A Crucial Warm-up

The tri-series format is designed to provide maximum competitive exposure. Each team will play the others twice in a round-robin format, culminating in a final between the top two teams on September 7. Should Afghanistan advance to the final, they will face a tight turnaround, with only a single day's rest before their Asia Cup campaign commences.

Asia Cup Campaign Kicks Off Against Hong Kong

Afghanistan is scheduled to begin their Asia Cup journey on September 9, where they will take on Hong Kong. Pakistan and UAE are slated to start their respective Asia Cup campaigns on September 12 and September 10, underscoring the demanding schedule ahead for all participating nations.

Afghanistan Squad for UAE Tri-Series:

• Rashid Khan (capt)
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
• Ibrahim Zadran
• Darwish Rasooli
• Sediqullah Atal
• Azmatullah Omarzai
• Karim Janat
• Mohammad Nabi
• Gulbadin Naib
• Sharafuddin Ashraf
• Mohammad Ishaq
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman
• AM Ghazanfar
• Noor Ahmad
• Fareed Ahmad
• Abdollah Ahmadzai
• Fazalhaq Farooqi