Afghanistan cricket has been dealt a heavy blow ahead of their crucial Asia Cup 2025 campaign. Star pacer Naveen Ul Haq has officially been ruled out of the tournament due to a lingering shoulder injury, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Monday.
In his place, Abdullah Ahmadzai, a promising young seamer who recently made his international debut, has been drafted into the main squad.
Naveen’s Injury Update
Naveen, one of Afghanistan’s most experienced fast bowlers in T20 cricket, was named in the original squad but did not feature in their opening clash. The ACB’s medical team has now declared him unfit to take part in the remaining matches, forcing the management to send him home for further rehabilitation and recovery.
The board issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery:
“Afghanistan’s veteran fast bowler, Naveen Ul Haq, has been ruled out of the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025. He is still recovering from a shoulder injury and will undergo intensive treatment and rehabilitation until fully fit. The ACB wishes Naveen a quick recovery and extends best wishes to Abdullah Ahmadzai for the matches ahead.”
A Huge Blow for Afghanistan
Naveen’s absence comes at the worst possible time for Afghanistan. The 24-year-old has been a consistent wicket-taker for his side, known for his accuracy in the death overs and ability to deliver under pressure. His experience would have been crucial as Afghanistan look to bounce back after losing their opening game.
With Afghanistan set to face Bangladesh in a must-win clash on Tuesday, the management now has the difficult task of reshuffling their pace attack.
Spotlight on Abdullah Ahmadzai
For Abdullah Ahmadzai, this injury replacement is nothing short of a career-defining opportunity. The young pacer, who was in the reserves, has shown promise in his brief international outings and will now be tested on one of the biggest stages in Asian cricket.
While Ahmadzai may not have the same experience as Naveen, his pace and aggression could add a fresh dimension to Afghanistan’s bowling lineup.
Naveen’s Recent Form
Naveen last played competitive cricket in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season, where he picked up eight wickets in five innings. However, he has not played a single international match this year, with his last appearance for Afghanistan dating back to December 2024 against Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan’s Updated Squad for Asia Cup 2025
- Rashid Khan (c)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Darwish Rasooli
- Sediqullah Atal
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Karim Janat
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gulbadin Naib
- Sharafuddin Ashraf
- Mohammad Ishaq
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Allah Ghazanfar
- Noor Ahmad
- Farid Malik
- Abdullah Ahmadzai
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
What This Means Going Forward
Afghanistan are already under pressure in Group B, and Naveen’s absence reduces their experience in crunch situations. However, the Asia Cup has always been a platform where young players make a name for themselves — and all eyes will now be on Abdullah Ahmadzai to see if he can rise to the occasion.
For Afghanistan, the road ahead just got tougher, but under Rashid Khan’s leadership, the team will be determined to fight back and keep their Super Four hopes alive.
