The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has officially unveiled a 22-member preliminary squad for the upcoming T20I tri-nation series against Pakistan and hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well as the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in September.
Led by Rashid Khan, the squad will undergo a two-week training and preparation camp in the UAE ahead of the series, aimed at fine-tuning performances for both the tri-series and the continental tournament.
According to the ACB, the current squad will be trimmed to a final 15-member squad after the completion of the camp.
Afghanistan Preliminary Squad for Asia Cup 2025 & Tri-Series
- Rashid Khan (Captain)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Sediqullah Atal
- Wafiullah Tarakhil
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Darwish Rasooli
- Mohammad Ishaq
- Mohammad Nabi
- Nangyal Kharoti
- Sharafuddin Ashraf
- Karim Janat
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Gulbadin Naib
- Mujeeb Zadran
- AM Ghazanfar
- Noor Ahmad Lakanwal
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Farid Malik
- Saleem Safi
- Abdullah Ahmadzai
- Bashir Ahmad
T20I Tri-Series Schedule (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
This highly anticipated series will run from August 29 to September 7, with each team facing the others twice. The top two teams will progress to the final, scheduled for September 7.
- August 29 – Afghanistan vs Pakistan – 7:00 PM local time
- August 30 – UAE vs Pakistan – 7:00 PM
- September 1 – UAE vs Afghanistan – 7:00 PM
- September 2 – Pakistan vs Afghanistan – 7:00 PM
- September 4 – Pakistan vs UAE – 7:00 PM
- September 5 – Afghanistan vs UAE – 7:00 PM
- September 7 – Final – 7:00 PM
Background Context
Originally, Pakistan was set to host Afghanistan in a bilateral T20I series, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed a tri-nation format to allow better preparation for the Asia Cup 2025. The ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup will take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, 2025.
This tri-series serves as an ideal opportunity for all three teams to adjust to UAE conditions ahead of the main event.
What’s Next?
With match dates, venues, and the squad now confirmed, fans can expect Asia Cup 2025 ticket sales to begin soon. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is expected to release official ticketing details in the coming days.
Keep checking our site for the latest updates, squad confirmations, ticket info, and match previews as we head toward a thrilling cricket season in the UAE!
