Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Selection Committee on Sunday, announced a 17-member squad for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023, which will be played from August 30 to September 17 in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Najibullah Zadran, who missed the recently concluded Pakistan Series due to a knee injury has been included in the lineup and is expected to recover from the injury prior to the start of the event. Meanwhile, Shahidullah Kamal, who had replaced him in the series, has been left out of the Asia Cup squad.
All-rounder Karim Jannat who played his only ODI in 2017, has managed to make the cut for the Asia Cup, as Azmatullah Omarzai has been ruled out of the competition due to a side strain. Omarzai was replaced by Gulbadin Naib in the third ODI against Pakistan in the recently concluded ODI series.
Mohammad Saleem Safi and Abdul Rahman, two fast bowlers, who were also part of Afghanistan’s recent home ODI series against Pakistan, have retained their spots in the lineup, however, Fareed Ahmad and Wafadar Momand have been left out of the squad for the Asia Cup.
Sharafuddin Ashraf, a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, who last played for Afghanistan last year has also been included in the team as a reserve spinner.
Afghanistan Squad for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem Safi and Fazal Haq Farooqi
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