On Sunday, January 12, Afghanistan announced their squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan. Hashmatullah Shahidi will captain the side in the prestigious 50-over tournament. However, the absence of spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman from the 15-member squad was a surprising development. Rising spin talent Allah Ghazanfar will make his major ICC event debut after earning a spot in the squad.
The Afghanistan squad features a blend of experience and youth, with players like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Fazalhaq Farooqi forming a solid core. The full squad includes: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, and Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Nangyal Kharoti, and Bilal Sami.
Interestingly, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was previously ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2024 due to a finger injury, is currently participating in SA20 2025. On January 11, he played a match and took two wickets. Reports suggest his doctors advised him to focus solely on T20Is due to his recurring injury, which may explain his omission from the Champions Trophy squad.
Despite the balanced composition of the team, Afghanistan faces challenges off the field. Several groups are urging England, South Africa, and Australia to boycott Afghanistan over the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports. These nations are advocating for positive changes in Afghanistan’s policies before committing to play.
Afghanistan will face a tough challenge in Group B, competing against Australia, South Africa, and England.
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