Afghanistan have stayed loyal to the group earmarked for next month’s Asia Cup, selecting 16 of those 17 players for the T20 tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE that begins in Sharjah on Friday.
The only change sees pace bowler Naveen-ul-Haq rested, with 22-year-old quick Abdollah Ahmadzai drafted in. “Abdollah gives us fresh energy and a lively new-ball option,” chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil noted in a brief media release. The youngster has 14 wickets from 10 domestic T20s but is yet to win a cap.
Ibrahim Zadran returns at the top of the order after missing Afghanistan’s last T20 assignment in Zimbabwe in December 2024. “It’s been a long wait; I’m eager to contribute,” the opener said as the squad gathered in Kabul. Zadran’s comeback, combined with Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s aggressive style, leaves the batting unit looking settled if still a touch top-heavy.
Spin remains Afghanistan’s traditional strength. Captain Rashid Khan is joined by Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and 17-year-old mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, who is tipped to make his debut. Bowling coach Hamid Hassan believes the variety on offer can be decisive: “If we control the middle overs, Sharjah’s dimensions can work for us rather than against us.”
The schedule is tight. Each side meets the others twice before the final on 7 September. Should Afghanistan reach that match, they will have just one day off before their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong on 9 September. Rashid admitted the quick turnaround is “not ideal but part of modern cricket”, adding that the players “would rather be on the field than in the nets”.
These will be Afghanistan’s first white-ball fixtures since February’s Champions Trophy exit, so team management are using the series to fine-tune roles rather than experiment wholesale. Fielding drills and death-over plans have featured prominently in recent training sessions; assistant coach Raees Ahmadzai insists, “Sharjah is about sharpening, not overhauling.”
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.
Naveen-ul-Haq remains in the wider Asia Cup squad and is expected to return once his workload is managed. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote travels as a reserve.
With a largely settled core, Afghanistan enter the tri-series looking for rhythm rather than revelation. If the batting can match the consistency of the spin attack, they will fancy their chances of taking useful momentum into the continental tournament.
