ACB name preliminary squad for Asia Cup; not worried about Rashid Khan’s form

Afghanistan Cricket Board official said on Tuesday that they are not losing their sleep over the form of star leg spinner Rashid Khan as they are confident he will make a comeback in the upcoming Asia Cup. ACB announced a 22-member preliminary squad led by Rashid for the upcoming Asia Cup, set to be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28.

Rashid decided not to take part in the Major League Cricket for MI New York following the Indian Premier League after an ordinary season by his standards where he picked nine wickets at at an economy rate of 9.34 and average of 57.11 for Gujarat Titans.

“Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s superstar player. He has always done it for the team. Being in form or out of form, that’s a part of game but he knows very well how to come back stronger and perform in major events for the team and the country,” Mir Mubariz, ACB’s selection committee member, told Cricbuzz.

Mubariz also stated that the board will host a two-week preparation camp before competing in the tri-nation T20I series that includes UAE and Pakistan. Following the series, Afghanistan will focus on Asia Cup where they have been drawn in Group B alongside Hong Kong, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

“We have announced a preliminary squad for the preparation camp ahead of the tri-nation series and Asia Cup where the newly-included guys will be checked by both the coaching staff and the captain during the training and preparation camp,” Mubariz said, adding that they are expected to pick their World Cup squad from the 22 members of the preliminary camp unless they have to change their plans due to injuries.

“Yeah, we will probably go with these 22 players to the upcoming Asia Cup, but there might be changes in case of injury, and we will take care of such issues with the passage of time,” he said, taking stock of the pace battery that has been included.

“Yeah, we have a great bunch of pacers. We have included Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad, and Salim Safi is also returning after an injury. So, they all have the ability to bowl around 140.”

“The whole world knows Afghanistan has got the best spin unit, with the likes of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, Mohammad Nabi, and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar. We have also added Nangyal Kharoti and Sharafuddin Ashraf, particularly Sharafuddin Ashraf, who has been doing great in domestic cricket for the last few years and was the Player of the Tournament in the Shpageeza 2025,” he added.

“We have added a number of new guys such as top-order batter Wafiullah Tarakhil who was great in domestic events and was part of our A team too. Two pacers Abdullah Ahmadzai who is part of the preparation camp for the first time and Bashir Ahmad who have played with our A team. They are the future of Afghanistan. After the tri-nation series and the camps, the coach, captain, and the selection committee will all decide together whom to go with for the Asia Cup,” he further explained.

Mubariz said that captain and coach will have to decide regarding their opening pair as there are three candidates – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran for the two spots.

“The opening pair will be decided by the coach and captain as per the condition and plan for the day and event, but yes, all of the mentioned players will be part of our top order,” he added.

Afghanistan will start their Asia Cup campaign on September 9 against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi while they are scheduled to play the next two games respectively against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on September 16 and 18.

Afghanistan’s 22-member preliminary squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Mohammad Ishaq, Rashid Khan (C), Mohammad Nabi, Nangyal Kharoti, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Karim Janat, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mujeeb Zadran, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveen ul Haq, Farid Malik, Saleem Safi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad.