- Karim Janat returns to Afghanistan’s ODI squad after a six-year hiatus, selected for the Asia Cup .
- Zadran, along with an array of spin options including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
- Afghanistan, placed in Group B, commences their Asia Cup journey against Bangladesh on September 3 .
Afghanistan’s allrounder Karim Janat is set to make a comeback to the ODI format after more than six years, as he finds a place in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. The 17-member squad also includes Najibullah Zadran, who missed the Pakistan ODI series due to a knee injury. Another returning player is left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, who last represented Afghanistan in August 2022.
Karim Janat’s last ODI appearance was in February 2017 against Zimbabwe, and he has been absent from the format since then. However, he has remained a consistent member of the T20I side and even secured a hat-trick in a T20I against Bangladesh in July. This year, Janat also made his Test debut, showcasing his versatility across formats.
From the ODI series squad against Pakistan, Wafadar Momand, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fareed Ahmad, and Shahidullah have been excluded from the Asia Cup squad. Omarzai’s absence in the third ODI against Pakistan was due to a side strain, leading to Gulbadin Naib’s inclusion in the squad. Shahidullah replaced Najibullah in the squad, while Fareed, part of the traveling reserves, participated in the third ODI.
Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the team, featuring familiar names like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran at the top order. The spin department boasts talents such as Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin, and Noor Ahmad.
Notably, Noor Ahmad did not get a chance to play in the ODI series against Pakistan, despite being recognized as a promising young talent who has showcased his skills in various franchise leagues globally. He has accumulated three ODIs for Afghanistan thus far. Spearheading the pace attack will be Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Placed in Group B of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan’s campaign kicks off against Bangladesh on September 3 in Lahore.
Afghanistan Squad
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Wicketkeeper)
Ibrahim Zadran
Riaz Hassan
Rahmat Shah
Najibullah Zadran
Mohammad Nabi
Ikram Alikhil (Wicketkeeper)
Rashid Khan
Gulbadin Naib
Karim Janat
Abdul Rahman
Sharafuddin Ashraf
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Noor Ahmad
Mohammad Saleem
Fazalhaq Farooqi