Afghanistan’s men’s “A” team will launch its title‑defence campaign at the ACC Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha on 14 November. The tournament, formerly the Emerging Teams Asia Cup, brings together nine squads from across the continent as they fight for a lucrative trophy and a spot in the semi‑finals on 21 November.
Strong squad headed by Darwish Rasooli
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced a 15‑man squad led by captain Darwish Rasooli. The lineup blends experience and youthful promise: ten players came from last year’s championship side. Key names include vice‑captain Sediqullah Atal, mystery spin bowler AM Ghazanfar, legspinner Qais Ahmad, pace bowler Abdollah Ahmadzai, and all‑rounders Nangeyalia Kharote and Farmanullah Safi.
ACB Chief Executive Naseeb Khan said: “We cherish the memories from last year, and with the aim of retaining the title, we have named our squad. I am confident the team will perform well and bring pride to the nation once again.” He added that the team will run in Pool B, playing Sri Lanka A, Bangladesh A, and Hong Kong.
Game plan and key players
Atal, who scored a critical half‑century in last year’s final, remains the backbone of the top order. Since then he has earned 22 T20Is, 12 ODIs, and a Test cap for Afghanistan’s senior team. The pace attack is spearheaded by Ahmadzai, who debuted in September and played all three matches against Zimbabwe. He will be joined by Bilal Sami and Faridoon Dawoodzai. Spin will be handled by the young Ghazanfar (18) and Qais Ahmad, with both eager to return to the crease after missing recent T20I fixtures.
The squad also boasts wicket‑keepers Noor Rahman and Mohammad Ishaq, adding depth and flexibility.
Fixtures
- 15 Nov: vs Sri Lanka A – Doha
- 17 Nov: vs Bangladesh A – Doha
- 19 Nov: vs Hong Kong – Doha
- 21 Nov: Semi‑final – Doha
- 23 Nov: Final – Doha
Squad details
Captain: Darwish Rasooli
Vice‑captain: Sediqullah Atal
Wicket‑keepers: Noor Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq
Batsmen: Zubaid Akbari, Imran Mir, Rahmanullah Zadran, Ijaz Ahmad
All‑rounders: Nangeyalia Kharote, Farmanullah Safi
Spinners: Qais Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar
Pacers: Abdollah Ahmadzai, Bilal Sami, Faridoon Dawoodzai
Reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Sediqullah Pacha, Yama Arab
Afghanistan A will aim to replicate their thrilling triumph from last year and bring another trophy home to Kabul. With a mix of proven talent and emerging stars, the team’s path to the final looks promising as the tournament heats up in Doha.
Source: ianslive
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