Afghanistan have again leaned on their spinners, calling up 19-year-old mystery tweaker AM Ghazanfar for next month’s men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE.
Head coach Jonathan Trott summed it up simply. “Spin is still our trump card,” he told RTA Sport. “Ghazanfar gives us another angle, another set of questions for opponents.”
The teenager joins captain Rashid Khan, left-armer Noor Ahmad, off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and the evergreen Mohammad Nabi in a five-strong slow-bowling group that, on paper, looks as potent as any in the tournament.
Key changes
• In: AM Ghazanfar, Ibrahim Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf
• Out: Hazratullah Zazai, Zubaid Akbari
• Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote moves to reserves
Ghazanfar has never played a T20I, yet he already owns two ODI five-fors, including 6 for 26 against Bangladesh last November. Franchise coaches have been queuing up: he has had stints in the IPL, CPL, ILT20 and BPL despite his limited international exposure. “That kid bowls the ball both ways without a tell,” former Afghanistan spinner Hamid Hassan said on local radio. “He will be hard to line up on true UAE pitches.”
Afghanistan have played only three T20Is in the past 12 months – a 2-1 win in Zimbabwe last December – so rust is a concern. To sharpen up, Rashid’s men face Pakistan and hosts UAE in a short tri-series in Sharjah starting Friday.
Batting balance
Top-order anchor Ibrahim Zadran returns after missing the Zimbabwe tour and will likely slot alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz or the in-form Sediqullah Atal. Ibrahim admits the side needs runs to match its spin reputation. “Everyone talks about our bowling,” he said in Kabul this week, “but if we bat to 170 regularly, the spinners can squeeze.”
All-rounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib provide seam back-up, while the left-arm pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi and the skiddy Naveen ul Haq complete a tidy, if less heralded, pace unit.
Recent form check
• Rashid Khan: Quiet IPL 2025 but eight wickets in five outings for Oval Invincibles before leaving The Hundred early for national duty.
• Noor Ahmad: Chennai Super Kings’ breakout bowler – 19 IPL wickets at 7.4 an over – now with Manchester Originals.
• Mujeeb Ur Rahman: Part of Barbados Royals; in and out of the XI, economy still under eight in the CPL.
• Mohammad Nabi: Last competitive appearance was the Shpageeza final on 31 July, top-scoring with 46 even as Mis Ainak Knights lost.
Group and fixtures
Afghanistan sit in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka; Group A houses India, Oman, Pakistan and the UAE. Rashid’s side open the tournament against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi on 9 September.
Former skipper Asghar Afghan believes the draw is workable. “Beat Hong Kong first up and suddenly you only need one more win to make the semi-finals,” he told Tolo News. “Momentum is everything in a short competition.”
Why Ghazanfar now?
Trott sees the youngster as a like-for-like reserve for Rashid should wrist-spin duties pile up. Crucially, Ghazanfar bowls in the powerplay for Kabul Eagles in domestic cricket – something Rashid and Noor have done sparingly of late. On UAE pitches that often grip early evening, that extra option could free up Rashid for the middle overs.
Risks and rewards
The upside is obvious: five varied spinners, each with a different release point and stock ball. The downside is match-practice – or lack of it. Afghanistan have simply not played enough T20 cricket together this year. Still, batting coach Raees Ahmadzai is upbeat. “At training the boys look hungry. Yes, the calendar was light, but freshness can be a weapon too.”
Squad in full
Rashid Khan (c), 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, Naveen ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi. Reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai.
Expect Afghanistan to stick to formula: post a serviceable score, then unleash the spinners in waves. It has worked before; it could work again.
