Afghanistan's team for Asia Cup 2025 is full of spinners. Captain Rashid Khan is going to lead the spin department. Rashid has become the world's most successful bowler in T20 International.
Afghanistan's team is also going to participate in the Asia Cup Cricket Tournament 2025. Afghanistan's team will participate in this tournament under the captaincy of Rashid Khan. Afghanistan has shown its strength in the triangular series being held in Sharjah before the Asia Cup. In this tri-series, Afghanistan has defeated the Pakistani team as well as the host United Arab Emirates (UAE).
By defeating Pakistan, Afghanistan has shown that it is not going to take the field to upset the Asia Cup, but with the dream of winning the title. Defeating Afghanistan in the Asia Cup is not going to be easy. If you look at Afghanistan's Asia Cup squad, it is full of spin bowlers.
These include the names of Allah Ghazanfar, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmed, Sharafuddin Ashraf, captain Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. These bowlers can spoil the work of any team on the spin friendly pitches of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The tension of Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, which are in Afghanistan's group, has already increased.
It is not easy to face the mystery balls of Ghazanfar-Noor!
Mohammad Nabi and Afghan captain Rashid Khan have immense experience of T20 International. Leg spinner Rashid has taken 167 wickets in 99 T20 International matches so far and he is the highest wicket taker in this format. At the same time, off-spinner Nabi has taken 101 wickets in 135 T20 International matches. Off-spinner Mujeeb has also played 51 T20 International matches, in which he has 64 wickets to his name. On the other hand, it will not be easy for the opposition batsmen to break the mystery balls of 19-year-old Allah Ghazanfar. Ghazanfar has taken 25 wickets in 1 Test, 11 ODIs and 1 T20 International match. In his short career, he has taken five or more wickets in an innings twice during ODI matches. Right-arm spinner Ghazanfar is adept at bowling both off-break and leg-break balls.
Chinaman Noor Ahmed is also considered a mystery spinner. Noor has played 13 ODIs and 15 T20 Internationals, in which he has taken a total of 19 wickets. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, 20-year-old Noor Ahmed bowled lethally for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and took 24 wickets in 14 matches.
Left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf will also be looking for a chance in the Asia Cup. 30-year-old Ashraf has played 20 T20 Internationals for Afghanistan, in which he has taken 11 wickets. During the Asia Cup, four spinners will definitely be seen playing in Afghanistan's playing-11.
Afghanistan's group matches (Asia Cup)
vs Hong Kong, 9 September, Abu Dhabi
vs Bangladesh, 16 September, Abu Dhabi
vs Sri Lanka, 18 September, Abu Dhabi
Allah Ghazanfar can make a splash in the Asia Cup, Photo: ACB
Chinaman Noor Ahmed is also considered a mystery spinner. Noor has played 13 ODIs and 15 T20 Internationals, in which he has taken a total of 19 wickets. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, 20-year-old Noor Ahmed bowled lethally for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and took 24 wickets in 14 matches.
Left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf will also be looking for a chance in the Asia Cup. 30-year-old Ashraf has played 20 T20 Internationals for Afghanistan, in which he has taken 11 wickets. During the Asia Cup, four spinners will definitely be seen playing in Afghanistan's playing-11.
Afghanistan's group matches (Asia Cup)
vs Hong Kong, 9 September, Abu Dhabi
vs Bangladesh, 16 September, Abu Dhabi
vs Sri Lanka, 18 September, Abu Dhabi
Afghanistan squad for Asia Cup: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Umarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq (wicketkeeper), Mujeeb ur Rahman, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Farid Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq.