No longer the underdogs, Afghanistan enters this edition of the Asia Cup with much power and authority. Although they ended up losing the final of Tri-series versus Pakistan, they are still a fierce and determined side in this Asia Cup.
Afghanistan has participated in every Asia Cup since their 2014 debut. In 2018, they advanced to the Super Four stage, receiving recognition for forcing India and Pakistan to the edge. They were barely eliminated in the 2022 and 2023 editions because of their net run rate.
Recent form:
Afghanistan ended up being the runners-up for the tri-series as they competed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan, both of the sides who are participating in the forth-coming Asia Cup.
Nevertheless, Afghanistan has enjoyed a great success in the T20 international circuit in the recent past, as they played the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024, beating the likes of Australia in the way.
In 2024, they also beat Ireland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in the bilateral series. In the Champions Trophy 2025, they did not make it to the next stage but there were quite ecstatic performances as they beat the England side as well.
Fixtures (Group B):
9 September – Afghanistan vs Hong Kong, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
16 September – Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Sheikh Zayed Stadium
18 September – Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Squad:
Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeeper), 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
Strengths:
- Their top-order is their strength given how Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran bats with the aggressive approach. Zadran was the highest-run scorer for his side in the recently concluded tri-series. Although Gurbaz struggled to get going, he still remains the vital cog for the side given their lower and middle order woes.
- Afghanistan’s spin-attack is undoubtedly one of the best attacks right now in the T20i circuit. Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and AM Ghaznafar hold the ability to dismantle any opponent. Rashid and Noor were impressive in the latest series as well. Meanwhile Nabi and Mujeeb add more depth.
Weakness:
- Their middle order is fragile and relies too much on the top-order. Omarzai failing to score must be worrisome for Afghanistan.
- The side is yet to master the key to remain calm and composed during the tense and pressure moments.
- Except Omarzai and Fazalhaq, Afghanistan lacks genuine pace options.
Players to watch out for:
Rashid Khan:
One of the T20 bowlers in world cricket, he is also the leading wicket taker in the given format.
Noor Ahmad:
Noor’s rise to prominence has been one of the stories to watch out for. He was exceptional in the recent series which makes him an exciting prospect to watch out for in the cricketing world.
Ghazanfar:
He made his debut in T20i in the recent series but his stats and bowling prowess are impressive to say the least. He was the main bowler to dismantle Africa’s lineup when Afghanistan overpowered Africa for the very first time in their ODI history.
Atal:
Atal showed a glimpse of brilliance in the recent tri-series. After Gurbaz and Zadran, he is a batter Afghanistan can rely on.
Afghanistan is no longer just an emerging team, they’ve grown into a formidable opponent for any top side. In the 2025 Asia Cup, their real test will be how well they handle pressure on the big stage. With a batting lineup that can explode at any moment and arguably the best spin attack in the tournament, they have all the tools to go deep and possibly even play their first ever tournament’s final.
