"Middle-order batter Darwish Rasooli, who was out with a finger injury, the leg-spinning all-rounder Qais Ahmad and the right-arm quick Salim Safi have made it to the 15-member cut. In addition, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib have been added to the squad as reserves," the ACB informed in a release on Thursday. The squad led by Mohammad Nabi includes senior players like spinner Rashid Khan, wicket-keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Fazal Haq Farooqi and Mujib ur Rahman. Chief selector Noor Malikzai said the team will take things forward from the Asia Cup.
"The Asia Cup was a very good opportunity for the team to buildup things nicely for the much-important global event in Australia. Fortunately, Darwish Rasooli has recovered from injury (broken finger) and we are happy to have him available for the WT20, he has demonstrated good glimpses of him in the previously held Shpageeza Cricket League 2022 and offers an additional batting option to our middle order," said Malikzai.
"Since the Australian conditions offer further support for the fast bowlers, so we have added Salim Safi, the tall right-arm quick to add further impetus to our bowling department. Overall we have picked our best available players for the event and we are hopeful of them to do well and better represent the country in the mega event," the ACB chief selector added.
Afghanistan Squad for ICC T20 World Cup: - Mohammad Nabi (c), Najibullah Zadran (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Darwish Rasooli, Farid Ahmad Malik, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Hazratullah Zazai, Ibrahim Zadran, Mujib ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan, Salim Safi and Usman Ghani.
Standbys/reserves: Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib