The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has thrown its full support behind Rashid Khan’s captaincy for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, reaffirming the star spinner’s leadership despite recent concerns over his form.
ACB selection committee member Mir Mubariz, speaking to the media, emphasized that Rashid remains a central figure in Afghanistan’s cricket setup and expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back.
“Rashid Khan is Afghanistan’s superstar player. He has always delivered for the team,” Mubariz said. “Being in form or out of form is part of the game, but he knows very well how to come back stronger and perform in major events for the team and the country.”
Tri-Nation Series to Precede Asia Cup
Ahead of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan is set to participate in a T20I tri-nation series featuring Pakistan and hosts UAE. The series will be played in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7.
A two-week preparation camp has been announced, during which the ACB will assess both experienced players and new inclusions. A preliminary 22-member squad has been named, which will be trimmed down to 15 after the camp.
“Yes, we will likely stick with these 22 players for the Asia Cup, but there could be changes in case of injuries,” Mubariz stated.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Remains Key Strength
Mubariz highlighted the strength of Afghanistan’s bowling, particularly its renowned spin department led by Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, and emerging talent Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar.
“The world knows Afghanistan has one of the best spin units,” Mubariz said. “We have also added Nangyal Kharoti and Sharafuddin Ashraf — the latter has been outstanding in domestic cricket and was recently named Player of the Tournament in the Shpageeza League 2025.”
The pace attack has also been bolstered, with the return of Saleem Safi and the inclusion of young quicks Abdullah Ahmadzai and Bashir Ahmad, all of whom can clock around 140 km/h.
Rashid’s Recent Form Under Scrutiny
Rashid Khan, who opted out of Major League Cricket after a challenging IPL season with Gujarat Titans — where he picked up only nine wickets at an economy rate of 9.34 — has faced scrutiny over his recent performances. However, ACB officials maintain full faith in his ability to deliver when it matters most.
“We’re not losing sleep over Rashid’s form,” Mubariz remarked. “We believe he’ll rise to the occasion.”
Key Decisions Await
The opening combination remains undecided, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Ibrahim Zadran competing for the top two spots. The final decision will rest with the coach and captain, based on match conditions and strategy.
Following the tri-series, Afghanistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 9 against Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, followed by matches against Bangladesh (September 16) and Sri Lanka (September 18).
Preliminary Squad for Tri-Nation Series and Asia Cup 2025:
Rashid Khan (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), 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, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Farid Malik, Saleem Safi, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Bashir Ahmad
