{"id":8443,"date":"2025-08-27T22:08:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/27\/afghanistan-clash-with-pakistan-uae-to-kick-off-asia-cup-prep-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-27T22:08:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T22:08:33","slug":"afghanistan-clash-with-pakistan-uae-to-kick-off-asia-cup-prep-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/27\/afghanistan-clash-with-pakistan-uae-to-kick-off-asia-cup-prep-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan Clash With Pakistan, UAE To Kick Off Asia Cup Prep | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9532806\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-3cea4b2331e41d4a\">August 27, 2025, 23:48 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9532806\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-188218614 asubttl-schema\">Afghanistan face Pakistan and UAE in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, prepping for Asia Cup 2025.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-188218614 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rashid Khan is leading Afghanistan. (Picture Credit: X\/@ICC)\" title=\"Rashid Khan is leading Afghanistan. (Picture Credit: X\/@ICC)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-188218614\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Rashid Khan is leading Afghanistan. (Picture Credit: X\/@ICC)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\">Afghanistan are gearing up for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 by participating in a T20I tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE, starting Friday in Sharjah. This tournament provides the Afghan team a perfect chance to refine their strategies and gain crucial insights on Pakistan, one of their Asia Cup opponents, as reported by <em>ESPNcricinfo<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\">The selectors have maintained nearly the same squad for both events, with only Naveen-ul-Haq absent from the tri-series lineup. Abdollah Ahmadzai has been brought in to replace him in the 17-member squad. The 22-year-old fast bowler, who has taken 14 wickets in 10 T20s, is yet to make his international debut and has been named among the reserves for the Asia Cup.<\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\">This tri-series marks Afghanistan\u2019s first white-ball matches since the Champions Trophy ended in February 2025, offering a vital opportunity for the team to regain their rhythm.<\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\">A notable inclusion is mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, who is poised to debut in T20Is during the tri-series. Ghazanfar joins a strong spin squad led by captain Rashid Khan, alongside seasoned players Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad.<\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\">The series also sees the return of opener Ibrahim Zadran, who last played T20Is in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Zadran was absent for Afghanistan\u2019s last T20I series against Zimbabwe in December 2024. From that squad, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote has been left out but is among the Asia Cup reserves.<\/p>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\">The tri-series will start with a match between Afghanistan and Pakistan and follow a double round-robin format, where each team plays the others twice. The top two teams will compete in the final on September 7.<\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\">Should Afghanistan reach the final, they will have just one day of rest before starting their Asia Cup campaign against Hong Kong on September 9. The UAE\u2019s first Asia Cup match is on September 10, while Pakistan begins their campaign on September 12.<\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\"><strong>Afghanistan squad for UAE tri-series:<\/strong> Rashid Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi.<\/p>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\"><em>(With ANI Inputs)<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atawrap\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atadetailwrp\">\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd ataname\"><span class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atthumb\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"authorimg\" src=\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd attitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/byline\/cricketnext-staff-13125.html\" class=\"jsx-95088aad1b3c53cd atamail\">Cricketnext Staff<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that\u2019s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that\u2019s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext<!-- --> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-188218614 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/\">cricket<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> Afghanistan Clash With Pakistan, UAE To Kick Off Asia Cup Prep<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-188218614 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/cricket\/afghanistan-clash-with-pakistan-uae-to-kick-off-asia-cup-prep-ws-l-9532806.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:August 27, 2025, 23:48 IST Afghanistan face Pakistan and UAE in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, prepping for Asia Cup 2025. Rashid Khan is leading Afghanistan. (Picture Credit: X\/@ICC) Afghanistan are gearing up for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 by participating in a T20I tri-series against Pakistan and the UAE, starting Friday in Sharjah&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}