Banking on big wins against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Afghanistan ensured their first-ever qualification for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Powered by an array of superstars in all departments of the game, and arriving into the competition off the back of their first-ever semi-final finish at an International Cricket Council tournament in last year's Twenty20 World Cup, Afghanistan are not to be taken lightly.
Afghanistan’s CT squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah (vice-capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Fareed Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nangeyalia Kharote, Naveed Zadran, Noor Ahmad
Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami
Group stage fixtures
February 21 – Against South Africa, Karachi
February 26 – Against England, Lahore
February 28 – Against Australia, Lahore
Player to watch
Azmatullah Omarzai
Adjudged as the ICC Men’s One Day International Player of the Year for 2024, Omarzai has been a crucial pillar for Afghanistan’s recent success in the format. At the last Cricket World Cup, the all-rounder had finished with 353 runs to go with nine wickets to inspire a streak of big results. In the absence of Naveen-ul-Haq, Omarzai will also have added responsibility in Afghanistan’s pace unit.
