Will Afghanistan prove to be the unlikely winners of the Asia Cup?

[Danyal A]

Afghanistan's Asia Cup squad

Looks strong as did the squad that faced Pakistan but will they flatter to deceive or could they be walking off as Asian Champions?

==

Afghanistan announced their 17-member squad for Asia Cup 2023, starting 30 August.

Afghanistan have named their squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The event will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

They have made a few changes to the side that faced Pakistan in the recently concluded three-game ODI series. Fareed Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahidullah Kamal and Wafadar Momand miss out on Asia Cup selections.

Omarzai had copped a side strain in the series against Pakistan and is out injured. On the other hand, the likes of Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran and Sharafuddin Ashraf are making comebacks.

Janat last played an ODI, his only one, in 2017, but has plenty of experience in the T20I format. The fast bowler has 37 T20I wickets at an average of 26.81.

Najibullah returns from an injury that kept him out of the Pakistan ODIs and is expected to boost the batting unit with his presence in the middle-order. He has 2013 ODI runs at an average of 30.04. Sharafuddin is an additional all-round option in the squad.

The remaining squad featured in the Pakistan ODIs. It includes a number of veterans.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran will be the openers for Afghanistan, while Riaz Hassan, Mohammad Nabi, skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi along with Najibullah are expected to take the middle-order roles.

Afghanistan's spin options include Rashid Khan, Nabi, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb ur Rahman. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi will lead the pace attack, with support from Gulbadin Naib, Janat, Abdul Rahman and Mohammad Saleem.

Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Riaz Hassan, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil, Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Abdul Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Suliman Safi, Fazalhaq Farooqi

ICC

 

[MenInG]

We say this every time Afghanistan makes an entry in a tournament!

 

[Mercurial]

Afghanistan's ODI batting approach and displays echo the Pakistan team during Misbah's captaincy – displaying uncertain and cautious batting, except for Gurbaz, of course. Adopting this approach, they might consider themselves fortunate to advance to the Semi-Finals.

 

[Hextro]

I'm starting to doubt Afg's lead spinners. On spin-friendly pitches, Rashid averaged 45.66, and Mujeeb averaged 25.60. This makes me think that the threat they supposedly pose is overrated.

Hopefully this comment doesn't come back to bite me on the back.

 

[Babeikh]

I have seen no evidence that they are anywhere near capable of winning the Asia Cup

 

[apnapind]

I'm starting to doubt Afg's lead spinners. On spin-friendly pitches, Rashid averaged 45.66, and Mujeeb averaged 25.60. This makes me think that the threat they supposedly pose is overrated.

Hopefully this comment doesn't come back to bite me on the back.

I thought pak played them really well they had pak 189 for 6 from there we still mamaged to hit 260 plus mark.

 

[shamaan]

I think they will struggle go get into the semi final.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Their batting and fielding will let them down. They won't win any tournament, unless they improve upon it.

 

[MenInG]

But they have the shock factor. Someone like Gurbaz can play a killer innings at any time.

 

[pratiktc]

Their captain is a liability. He cannot score at a rate that will trouble any intl team

 

[Major]

Alikhil is a parchi

 

[AAli98]

Theyr a 20/30 over team at best.. 50 overs is out of there depth.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Afghanistan's batting has consistently let them down, their bowling on the other hand is strong.

I was surprised why Naveen-ul-haq never got a chance to play.

 

[Justcrazy]

Not possible , batting is not good enough to win a tournament.

 

[MenInG]

Afghanistan have arrived in Lahore.

 

[sweep_shot]

Nope. They are unlikely to win.

Afghanistan have a very good ODI team but something is missing. They often botch up crucial moments of a game.

 

[sam_ahm]

I'll be surprised if they make it to Super 4s. Can't see them getting past Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Afghanistan lack middle order and death bowling.

Fielding is not great either. In the Pakistan series they dropped at least 2 catches every match.

 

[MenInG]

Afghanistan lack middle order and death bowling.

Fielding is not great either. In the Pakistan series they dropped at least 2 catches every match.

Problem is the format.

In T20s, I would say they can shock any team but 50 overs requires a lot of consistency

 

[mominsaigol]

I'm starting to doubt Afg's lead spinners. On spin-friendly pitches, Rashid averaged 45.66, and Mujeeb averaged 25.60. This makes me think that the threat they supposedly pose is overrated.

Hopefully this comment doesn't come back to bite me on the back.

Because rashid khan tries to focus only on wicket taking, which is why he can leak runs because he tries something different. Mujeeb sticks to line and length.

Rashid is a world class t20 bowler but odi is not really his depth. Tbf odi isn't Afghanistan's thing in general, they aren't their yet atm.

 

[gazza619]

The beauty of limited cricket overs is that anyone can win. Afghanistan nearly defeated a full strength Pakistan in the 2nd ODI.

 

[Major]

As much as i want these guys to reach the semis or win a few games, these guys have alot of flaws that they are not ready to fix.

Every tournament its the same story. They dont bother to search for fast bowlers and improve their pace bowling. They dont bother to bring in Batters.

Their team will have 8 good selections, and than there would be a few sifarishi selections and than a few very terrible selections.

Alikhil, Karim Jannat and Gulbaddin suck. They are terrible players. Just like how Mirwais Ashraf was a terrible bowler yet got selected due to his connections. Sharafuddin Ashraf? he is one of the worst spinners in the country. You have guys like Zahir Khan and Qais Ahmad, select those. Where is Darvish Rassoli or Bahir Shah?

Produce some actual fast bowlers.

The team is filled with bits and pieces.

 

[WicketLord]

 

[Double Trouble]

Afghan strength is the spin attack but as there players play so much franchise cricket batsmen are playing them a lot better now.

Poor batting along with abysmal fielding let’s them down.

 

[TheSultan]

I think Afghanistan don’t know what they want to be.

They only show passion against Pakistan and fold against india like a pack of cards. Almost inviting India to spank them.

With this type of mentality they’re not winning anything any time soon.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Their batting is too dependent on their openers who themselves are very inexperienced. Their only superstar Rashid Khan never performs against quality teams. Other main batsmans Shahidi and Rahmat are too slow for ODI cricket.
They are good team, but probably don't have quality to win multi-team tournaments.

 

[Firebat]

In a T20 tournament, I'd give them more chances. They don't have the batting to do consistently well for anything longer than 20 overs.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

they are not well groomed for ODI cricket.. maybe in next few years!

 

[mominsaigol]

Their already out of the tournament lol.

 

[Asif321]

Batting pitches don’t suite them . They will be successful in UAE and SL kind of tracks .

 

[sweep_shot]

Batting pitches don’t suite them . They will be successful in UAE and SL kind of tracks .

They probably would've failed on turning pitches too. They are mostly good at beating teams like BD, SL, Windies, Zimbabwe etc.

They have a habit of bottling when there is pressure.

 

[FearlessRoar]

That day is not far when Afghanistan will win the Asia Cup, but only if they stop being too soft on India.