The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), on September 13, announced the national team's 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup (CWC) 2023. This will be the third time Afghanistan will play in the World Cup tournament.
The World Cup 2023 will begin on October 5 in India with England and New Zealand clashing in the opening match in Ahmedabad.
Afghanistan will open its ODI World Cup 2023 campaign against Bangladesh in Dharamsala on October 7. And then they will face off against India on October 11 in Delhi.
The Afghanistan cricket board has picked most of the names who played recently in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament, in which the Atalans failed to make it into the Super 4s after a heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka.
Umran Malik likely to replace injured Shivam Mavi in India’s squad for Asian Games: Report
The squad led by Hashmatullah Shahidi features four changes from the squad that is playing in the Asia Cup. The likes of Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Suliman Safi have been dropped.
The 15-member contingent also sees senior players like Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi being named in the squad.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Alikhil will be the wicketkeepers, while Riaz Hassan and Azmatullah Omarzai also find a place in the final 15. Rashid Khan will be joined in the spin department by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad along with all-rounder Abdul Rahman.
The fast bowlers in the side are Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq. Naveen has played only seven ODIs to date, taking 14 wickets at an average of 25.42.
The ACB has also named three reserve players- Gulbadin Naib, Sharafudin Ashraf, and Farid Ahmad Malik.
Afghanistan squad for World Cup 2023:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rahmat Shah, Riaz Hassan, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Alikhil, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Abdul Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen Ul Haq
Reserve players- Gulbadin Naib, Sharafudin Ashraf, Farid Ahmad Malik.
