A historic moment occurred in Bangladesh last July when an insurgent Afghan unit handed the hosts a rare defeat in an ODI series. The team, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Rashid Khan, among others, achieved success in this passionate cricket nation. This victory has given them a significant boost as they prepare for the 2023 World Cup in India.
While Australia has already announced their formidable squad for the upcoming tournament, the remaining nine competing nations have yet to reveal their respective teams. Afghanistan will be participating in the 2023 Asia Cup before hosting Pakistan in Sri Lanka for three ODI matches. These matches will serve as their final preparations before the main event.
As Hashmatullah Shahidi and his teammates refine their skills and strategies for the 2023 World Cup, let’s see what could be their squad for the tournament. Here in this article we take a look at Afghanistan’s probable squad for the highly anticipated ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Afghanistan’s Probable Squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
Batters: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Riaz Hassan, Ikram Alikhil, Najibullah Zadran
Wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the 21-year-old sensation Ibrahim Zadran orchestrated a triumphant campaign against Bangladesh, securing a 2-1 series victory for Afghanistan within the enemy’s stronghold. The team’s management is likely to maintain the duo as their main opening partnership, with Riaz Hassan serving as a backup opener in the squad.
The presence of Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in the batting lineup infuses a wealth of experience and much-needed stability into Afghanistan’s top order. Additionally, Ikram Alikhil could earn a place in the squad as an alternative wicketkeeping option.
All-Rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Shahidullah Kamal
Afghanistan’s reliance on the seasoned all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan is paramount, especially considering their familiarity with Indian pitches from their participation in the IPL, which will prove invaluable for the national team during the World Cup.
Shahidullah Kamal, despite his absence from Afghanistan’s ODI squad for over a year, has been included in the preliminary World Cup series against Pakistan. Kamal boasts an impressive List A record, consistently scoring runs in the middle order and contributing with his effective left-arm spin.
Bowlers: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Noor Ahmad, Abdul Rahman
The fast bowling attack for Afghanistan is expected to feature the in-form Fazalhaq Farooqi and newcomers Mohammad Saleem Safi and Abdul Rahman. Azmatullah Omarzai, who has a strong record in List A matches, is also skilled with the bat when batting with the lower-order.
In terms of spin bowling, all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan will lead the department. They will be supported by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is the team’s primary spinner. Although Noor Ahmad lacks international experience, he has made a name for himself in the ongoing LPL 2023 season in Sri Lanka.
Also Read: Sri Lanka’s Probable Squad for ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Can Shanaka and Hasaranga Lead Lankan Lions To Victory?
Afghanistan’s Predicted Playing 11 for ICC ODI World Cup 2023
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Ibrahim Zadran
- Rahmat Shah
- Hashmatullah Shahidi (c)
- Mohammad Nabi
- Najibullah Zadran
- Azmatullah Omarzai
- Rashid Khan
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
- Fazalhaq Farooq
- Noor Ahmad