On Sunday, January 12, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) formally introduced a robust squad of the Afghanistan Nationwide Cricket Group for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Group Afghanistan will arrive on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the again of their sensational performances within the final two ICC tournaments – the ICC Males’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024.
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman unnoticed of Afghanistan squad
On Sunday, the Afghanistan Cricket Board’s Nationwide Choice Committee introduced the squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which will likely be performed from February 19 to March 09 throughout 4 venues in Dubai and Pakistan.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will likely be main the group within the 8-team competitors and Rahmat Shah will likely be his deputy. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Alikhil would be the two wicketkeeper-batters within the squad, and star batter Ibrahim Zadran, who was out of motion on account of an ankle damage, has made his comeback.
Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, and Gulbadin Naib are additionally current within the group, together with famous person spinner Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, and Noor Ahmad.
Nevertheless, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has not been included within the 15-man squad. The spinner has been unnoticed as a result of he’s but to recuperate absolutely from his damage and has been suggested by his physician to deal with T20s earlier than returning to ODIs. Additionally, Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, and Bilal Sami have been saved in reserves.
AfghanAtalan have carried out exceptionally nicely up to now two ICC occasions – ACB Chairman
In an official assertion launched by the board, the ACB Chairman, Mr. Mirwais Ashraf, said that they’re assured concerning the group performing nicely within the marquee match following their success within the final two ICC occasions.
Mirwais was additionally delighted with the appointment of the legendary Pakistan batsman Younis Khan because the mentor of the group and said that the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led facet can be trying ahead to creating full use of his experience. He elaborated:
“AfghanAtalan have carried out exceptionally nicely up to now two ICC occasions, the CWC23 and the ICC World T20 2024. Their spectacular performances in these two occasion coupled with their ODI collection victories final 12 months will undoubtedly enhance their morale and assist them ship a good higher marketing campaign this time.”
“The appointment of mentors has confirmed to be fairly helpful for us in each of the final two occasions. Given this success, we’ve appointed Mr. Younis Khan, who has intensive worldwide and native expertise, and we sit up for making full use of his experience throughout the occasion.”
In the identical media launch, ACB Interim Chief Selector Mr. Ahmad Suliman Khil spoke concerning the absence of spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and added that the Afghans are used to enjoying within the circumstances that will likely be on provide in Pakistan and UAE. He added that they’ve excessive expectations from Group Afghanistan and have been hopeful of the gamers delivering sensible performances.
“Mujeeb Ur Rahman was not obtainable for the choice as he has been suggested by his physician to deal with T20s for some time to make sure his full restoration earlier than returning to ODIs. That was additionally the explanation he missed on the just lately concluded ODI collection in opposition to Zimbabwe.”
“Situations in Pakistan are just like these in Afghanistan and the UAE, the place we normally play. We’ll conduct a preparation camp in a number of phases earlier than embarking on our journey for the large occasion. The expectations are excessive, and I hope the group will put together nicely and ship some glorious performances, simply as they did within the final two World Cups,” he stated.
This is Afghanistan’s 15-man Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.
Reserve pool: Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, and Bilal Sami
