Afghanistan Name Near-Identical Squad For UAE Tri-Series To Prepare For Asia Cup 2025
Afghanistan Pick 16 of 17 Asia Cup Squad Members for UAE Tri-Series Against Pakistan and UAE
Afghanistan cricket team is gearing up for a crucial T20I tri-series starting on August 29 in Sharjah, where they will face Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. This tri-series offers valuable match practice for Afghanistan ahead of the important Asia Cup 2025, which begins on September 9 in the UAE.
Afghanistan has named a 17-member squad for the tri-series that is nearly identical to their Asia Cup squad, with only one change: fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq is left out, and his place is taken by young pacer Abdollah Ahmadzai.
Squad Stability With A Few Changes
Coach and selectors have decided to stick with a largely consistent unit to maintain team balance and build momentum before the Asia Cup. The 22-year-old Abdollah Ahmadzai, who has taken 14 wickets in 10 domestic T20 matches but is yet to earn his international cap, has been included in the tri-series squad and named among Asia Cup reserves as well.
A notable inclusion is mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, 16 years old, who is expected to make his T20I debut during this tri-series. Ghazanfar joins an experienced and formidable spin department that features captain Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad.
The tri-series will also see the return of opener Ibrahim Zadran, absent from Afghanistan's last T20I series in Zimbabwe in December 2024. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who was in the previous squad, has been left out but remains a reserve for the Asia Cup.
Afghanistan Squad for UAE Tri-Series
Player | Role |
|---|---|
Rashid Khan (capt) | Spin bowler |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) | Wicketkeeper, batter |
Ibrahim Zadran | Opening batter |
Darwish Rasooli | Batter |
Sediqullah Atal | Batter |
Azmatullah Omarzai | All-rounder |
Karim Janat | All-rounder |
Mohammad Nabi | Spin-bowling all-rounder |
Gulbadin Naib | All-rounder |
Sharafuddin Ashraf | All-rounder |
Mohammad Ishaq | Batter |
Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Spinner |
AM Ghazanfar | Spinner |
Noor Ahmad | Spinner |
Fareed Ahmad | Bowler |
Abdollah Ahmadzai | Fast bowler |
Fazalhaq Farooqi | Fast bowler |
Tri-Series Format and Schedule
The tri-series kicks off with Afghanistan facing Pakistan on August 29, followed by a round-robin format where each team plays the others twice. The top two sides will clash in the final on September 7. This schedule dovetails immediately into the Asia Cup, meaning the finalists will get only a day's rest before beginning their continental tournament campaigns.
Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
29 Aug | Afghanistan vs Pakistan | Sharjah |
30 Aug | UAE vs Pakistan | Sharjah |
1 Sep | UAE vs Afghanistan | Sharjah |
2 Sep | Afghanistan vs Pakistan | Sharjah |
4 Sep | Pakistan vs UAE | Sharjah |
5 Sep | Afghanistan vs UAE | Sharjah |
7 Sep | Final (top 2 teams) | Sharjah |
Afghanistan’s Asia Cup opener is set for September 9 against Hong Kong.
Importance of the Tri-Series
This tournament represents Afghanistan's first white-ball cricket since the Champions Trophy concluded in February 2025, providing crucial game time to fine-tune team strategies and evaluate players under match conditions similar to those in the Asia Cup.
With their strong spin arsenal and a balanced batting lineup led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan aims to build momentum and sharpen their skills against regional rivals.
Looking Ahead
Afghanistan’s focus will be on maintaining a high standard of cricket, as the Asia Cup provides a major stage to test themselves against some of Asia’s best teams, including Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
The tri-series will be key not only for final preparations but also for giving players like Ghazanfar and Ahmadzai valuable international exposure. Their performances could influence final Asia Cup strategies and squad selections.