After two years, Pacer is back as Afghanistan names its World Cup 2023 Squad.The 15-member Afghanistan team has been selected to compete in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023 starting next month.
Naveen-ul-Haq rejoins the Afghanistan ODI team for the World Cup in India after a two-year absence, but experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib is left out despite a strong performance in the current Asia Cup.
There are four changes from the group that competed in the Asia Cup in Hashmatullah Shahidi’s team. Along with Naib, other notables who were left out include Karim Janat, Sharafuddin Ashraf, and Suliman Safi.
Azmatullah Omarzai rejoins the team after missing the Asia Cup due to injury, and Naveen, who last competed in a List A game in 2021, is also back.
With only seven ODI games under his belt, Naveen has already claimed 14 wickets at an average of 25.42. Janat, who had not played in an ODI in six years but had been called up for the Asia Cup, was benched.
However, Naib was left off the team despite having a four-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup and shining in his ODI comeback in the Pakistan series with the wickets of the openers in the third and final ODI.
The rest of the team has a recognisable appearance, and the spin department is filled with exceptional skill. The squad also includes Mujeeb ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad in addition to veteran spinners Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi.
The pace attack was strengthened with Naveen’s comeback and the addition of Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Abdul Rahman.
