Afghanistan have picked three specialist spinners – a leggie, mystery spinner and left-arm wristspinner – in their squad of 17 for the Asia Cup to be held in UAE later this month.
Sharafuddin Ashraf, the left-arm wristspinner, is among just two new additions – uncapped wicketkeeper Munir Ahmad being the other – to the squad that beat Ireland in the ODI series last week. Fast bowler Dawlat Zadran misses out.
Sharafuddin has so far featured in 14 ODIs, the last of which came at the World Cup Qualifiers against West Indies in March this year. He has also played six T20Is. In all, he has 17 international wickets.
Meanwhile this is a maiden call-up for Ahmad, who has been picked as a second wicketkeeper and is likely to be an understudy to Mohammad Shahzad, the hard-hitting opening batsman.
Ashraf aside, Afghanistan’s spin arsenal boasts of Rashid and Mujeeb, who have emerged richer in experience through country stints in England earlier this year apart from featuring in the IPL. Both of them also featured in the country’s maiden Test in India. They and can call upon a fourth option in offspinner allrounder Mohammad Nabi if needed.
The squad, captained by Asghar Afghan, who along with Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Ihshanullah Jannat, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi complete the top order. In addition to Nabi, they have a second allrounder in Gulbadin Naib, capable of bowling handy seam-ups. Aftab Alam, Sayed Shiraz and Wafadar complete their pace attack.
Squad for Asia Cup: Mohammad Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Afghan(c), Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Aftab Alam, Ihsanullah Janat, Sayed Shirzad, Wafadar, Munir Ahmad Kakar
Source: ESPN Crickinfo