Afghanistan's Champions Trophy squad: Decoding their strengths and weaknesses
What's the story
Afghanistan's cricket team is preparing for the 2025 Champions Trophy and many eyes will be on the team. The Afghan side is on a rise in recent years, having qualified for the semi-finals in the last year's ICC T20 World Cup. Notably, Afghanistan will make their maiden apperance in the ODI event and the team would want to leave a significant mark. Heere we analyse their squad.
Team strategy
Zadran returns to open batting for Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran, who has been missing from the team due to an injury during practice, is now fit and will open the batting with Rahmanullah Gurbaz. These two openers have been highly consistent in the 50-over format though there have been a few questions over Zadran's ability to generate quick runs. However, this isn't viewed as a major concern as they prefer consistency over speed in their scoring rate. Moreover, both Zaran and Gurbaz average over 39 in ODIs.
Performance review
Afghanistan's middle order in dismal form
Two of the team's most-important batters, particularly Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi, have been struggling with form. While Shahidi has been scoring at an average of 32.22 in ODIs since 2024, Shah's average in this period is even more dismal (23.33), as per ESPNcricinfo. However, the duo boast plethora of experience and the team management would back them to shed their poor form.
Player analysis
Struggles while batting first
Teams often prefer chasing in Asian conditions as the due factor comes into play in the evening time. While most of the Afghanistan batters own brilliant records in the second innings, some of them have struggled in the first innings. As per ESPNcricinfo, veteran batters Shah and Shahidi average under 33 while batting first in ODIs since 2019. However, both Gurbaz and Zadran average 48-plus in this department.
Team strengths
Afghanistan's team boasts depth and versatility
One of Afghanistan's biggest strengths is their depth in batting and bowling, courtesy of a few three-dimensional players. The likes of Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, and Azmatullah Omarzai are proven performers at the highest level. Moreover, Omarzai, who won the ODI Player of the Year award in 2024, has been in great form, while veteran Nabi continues to deliver in the lower order.
Bowling prowess
Afghanistan's spin bowling remains a strong point
Afghanistan's spin bowling remains a strength, even without Mujeeb Ur Rahman. ACB interim chief selector Ahmad Suliman Khil confirmed Rahman was advised by his doctor to focus on T20s for a while before returning to ODIs. The team still has four high-quality spinners: Rashid Khan, Allah Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmed, and Nabi each offering unique skills. They also have two excellent new-ball bowlers in Fazalhaq Farooqi and Omarzai who can swing the new ball both ways and take early wickets.
Information
Here is Afghanistan's squad for Champions Trophy
Afghanistan squad: 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, Naveed Zadran.