Emerging force eyes memorable Champions Trophy debut - Afghanistan team preview
The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led unit will be looking to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket.
Banking on big wins against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the 2023 Men’s Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan ensured their first-ever qualification for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Powered by an array of superstars in all departments of the game, and arriving into the competition off the back of their first-ever semi-final finish at an ICC tournament in last year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan are not to be taken lightly.
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Afghanistan squad:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, Bilal Sami
Group stage fixtures:
21 February - Afghanistan vs South Africa, Karachi
26 February - Afghanistan vs England, Lahore
28 February - Afghanistan vs Australia, Lahore
Player to watch: Azmatullah Omarzai
Adjudged as the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Year for 2024, Azmatullah Omarzai has been a crucial pillar for Afghanistan’s recent success in the format.
At the last Cricket World Cup, the all-rounder had finished with 353 runs to go with nine wickets to inspire a streak of big results.
In the absence of Naveen-ul-Haq, Omarzai will also have added responsibility in Afghanistan’s pace unit.