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Gulbadin Naib to lead strong Afghanistan squad for Asian Games
Follow UsAfghanistan will directly play the quarter-finals, where they will take one of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh
Afghanistan have announced a strong 15-man squad for Asian Games 2023 and the group will be led by Gulbadin Naib, who earlier this month was left out of Afghanistan’s World Cup 2023 squad.
Naib, who featured in Asia Cup 2023, is one of several big names in the Afghanistan squad. The 15-member squad also features veteran Mohammad Shahzad, whose last appearance for the country came in the 2021 T20 World Cup against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. Shahzad will serve as Naib’s deputy in the forthcoming Asian Games.
Karim Janat, another player who featured in the Asia Cup but was left out of the World Cup squad, has been picked, as has Fareed Ahmad. The spin duo of Qais Ahmad and Zahir Khan have also been named in the squad, and there’s also space for Noor Ali Zadran, who last played a T20I six years ago. Zadran, who recently played in the Emerging Asia Cup, is the uncle of Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Afghanistan will directly play the quarter-finals, where they will take one of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
Afghanistan Men’s squad for Asian Games
Gulbadin Naib (C), Mohammad Shahzad (VC & WK), Sediqullah Atal, Zubdaid Akbari, Noor Ali Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Afsar Zazai, Wafiullah Tarakhil, Karim Jannat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Nijat Masoud, Sayed Ahmad Shirzad, Qais Ahmad and Zahir Khan.
Reserves: Nangyal Kharoti, Mohammad Ibrahim and Allah Noor Nasiri.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, announced their 15-man Men’s squad for the Asian Games on Monday. Unlike Afghanistan, Sri Lanka’s squad does not feature too many capped players, with Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige and Nuwanidu Fernando being exceptions. The Lankan squad will be led by Arachchige.
Sri Lanka Men's Squad for Asian Games 2023
Lasith Croospulle, Shevon Daniel, Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige (c), Ahan Wickramasinghe, Lahiru Udara (WK), Ravindu Fernando, Ranitha Liyanarachchi, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sachitha Jayatilaka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nimesh Vimukthi, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nuwan Thushara, Isitha Wijesundera