Afghanistan announce 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022

Afghanistan will open their T20 World Cup campaign against England in Perth on October 22.

Afghanistan cricket team | GettyAfghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Thursday (September 15) announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, scheduled to be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13.

From the 17 players who were part of the Afghanistan Squad for the recently held Asia Cup in UAE, Samiullah Shinwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat and Noor Ahmad have missed out whereas the middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli, the leg-spinning all-rounder Qais Ahmad and the right-arm quick Salim Safi have made it to the 15-member cut.

Qais Ahmad will make a comeback to the squad, having played his last T20I in March 2022 while Salim Safi has received his maiden Afghanistan call-up.

In addition, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib have been added to the squad as reserves.

"The Asia Cup was a very good opportunity for the team to buildup things nicely for the much-important global event in Australia," chief selector Noor Malikzai said in a media release.

"Fortunately, Darwish Rasooli has recovered from injury (broken finger) and we are happy to have him available for the WT20, he has demonstrated good glimpses of him in the previously held Shpageeza Cricket League 2022 and offers an additional batting option to our middle order.

"Since the Australian conditions offer further support for the fast bowlers, so we have added Salim Safi, the tall right-arm quick to add further impetus to our bowling department. Overall we have picked our best available players for the event and we are hopeful of them to do well and better represent the country in the mega event," he added.

Afghanistan, led by Mohammad Nabi, will open their T20 World Cup 2022 campaign against England in Perth on October 22.

Afghanistan Squad: Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi, Usman Ghani.

Reserves: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 15 Sep, 2022

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